Compliance & Ethics

In an effort to tighten up Belgium’s defenses against money laundering and terrorism financing, the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) recently conducted comprehensive inspections of eight currency exchange offices. The goal was to assess how well these businesses are adhering to the country’s robust anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) regulations. And what the FSMA found wasn’t just a few minor lapses—it uncovered systemic weaknesses that pose significant compliance risks.

Transparency isn’t just a buzzword in the biotech world—it’s the lifeblood of investor trust. And when it’s absent, as French biotech firm Pharnext discovered, the consequences can be costly.

Change is in the air at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). With the arrival of a new administration, Acting Chair Caroline Pham has wasted no time in setting the tone for her tenure, announcing sweeping leadership updates across the agency.

In a settlement with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), UBS Financial Services Inc. (UBS FSI) agreed to a $1.1 million fine and a censure following a six-year span of inaccurate trade data submissions that affected more than 4.4 million transactions.

In a move against one of Scandinavia’s banking giants, Norway's Finanstilsynet has fined Danske Bank approximately $4.4 million (NOK 50 million) for market manipulation tied to a high-stakes government bond issuance in early 2023. The penalty underscores the seriousness of tampering with market benchmarks, particularly when taxpayer dollars are on the line.

The opioid crisis has left scars on communities across America, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives over the past two decades. While pharmaceutical manufacturers and rogue prescribers often dominate the headlines, pharmacy chains have increasingly found themselves in the DOJ’s crosshairs for their alleged role in this public health disaster. Now, Walgreens Boots Alliance, one of the nation’s largest pharmacy chains, faces a civil lawsuit from the Justice Department for allegedly fueling the epidemic by dispensing millions of unlawful prescriptions.

When it comes to managing hazardous waste, there's no room for error. After all, we're talking about materials that can seriously harm both people and the planet if not handled properly. But for years, Stericycle, a major player in waste management, was repeatedly caught in a web of regulatory missteps. Now, after a lengthy investigation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have stepped in, announcing a $9.5 million settlement to hold the company accountable for its violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).