Important update: From 1st December 2020, Libryo stopped updating this blog and it is no longer live. Check out Libryo’s solution which helps you keep track of the latest updates specific to your operations, from COVID-19 regulation to EHS law. Learn more here.
Libryo was using its regulatory tracking technology to keep this live blog of new law relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. Any new updates provided highlights of the legislation, key publication information and dates as well as links to the sources.
Live updates of COVID-19 regulations for the European Union
Click here to see COVID-19 updates for other countries.
Last Updated: Monday 27 April 2020
Regulation (EU) 2020/559 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2020 amending Regulation (EU) No 223/2014 as regards the introduction of specific measures for addressing the outbreak of COVID-19
Highlight:
The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have published a regulation which provides for an immediate response to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the most deprived persons through the the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (the "Fund").
----
Gazette Number: L 130/7
Publication Date: 24 April 2020
Effective Date: 25 April 2020
Copyright: © 2020 EU-OSHA
Last Updated: Tuesday 21 April 2020
EU-OSHA Guidance for the workplace
Highlight:
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has published guidance to assist employers and businesses in providing advice to staff in non-healthcare settings by:
-providing information on the novel coronavirus, its signs and symptoms, how it is spread and how long the virus can survive
-setting out how employers can make their workplaces ready to prevent the spread of COVID-19
-setting out what employers must do if someone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 has been in the workplace
-giving advice on travel and meetings
-containing further information and resources for employers, including certifying absence from work and handling post, packages or food from affected areas.
----
Published in terms of Council Directive of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace (first individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (89/654/EEC)
Publication Date: 15 April 2020
Source: https://oshwiki.eu/wiki/COVID-19:_guidance_for_the_workplace#See
Copyright: © 2020 EU-OSHA
Guidance on Apps supporting the fight against COVID 19 pandemic in relation to data protection
Highlight:
The European Commission has published guidance which sets out the features and requirements which apps for warning, preventing and facilitating contact tracing to help limit the spread of COVID-19 should have to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy Directive.
The guidance sets out how to limit the intrusiveness of the app functionalities including:
-that national health authorities (or other public health entities) are considered data controllers
-that the individual must remain in control of their personal data
-storing of information on the user’s device or gaining access to the information already stored is only allowed only if the user has given consent or the storage and/or access is strictly necessary for the the app explicitly requested (i.e. installed and activated) by the user
-no information stored in and accessed from terminal equipment, other than what is necessary to provide the information, may be processed
-if the app includes symptom checker and telemedicine functionalities, a list of data which it may process must be specified in the underlying legislation applicable to the health authorities
-the disclosure/access of data must be limited
-processing of data must only be done for precise purposes
-data storage must be strictly limited and data must be kept secure
-the data must be accurate.
The Commission will publish further guidance, including guidance regarding personal data protection and privacy implications of the use of applications in this field.
----
Published in terms of Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the respect for private life and the protection of personal data in electronic communications and repealing Directive 2002/58/EC (Regulation on Privacy and Electronic Communications)
Gazette Number: 2020/C 124 I/01
Publication Date: 20 April 2020
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_669
Copyright: © European Union, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/, 1998-2018
Waste management in the context of the coronavirus crisis
Highlight:
The European Commission has published guidance which aims to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, while preventing and reducing disruptions in the provision of proper waste management services by:
-providing for specific measures for managing household waste in support of infection prevention and control for suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases self-isolating at home
-stating that citizens must be advised to separate their waste and ensure the flow of clean streams of recyclables towards the waste treatment facilities
-requiring citizens to be informed about any temporary changes to the waste collection practices that affect the way they deliver waste for collection and further treatment
-providing that waste from healthcare services, laboratories and related activities associated with coronavirus patients must be handled and treated according to the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC
-setting out good practices to protect the health and safety of workers and providing them with assurance about how employers are addressing the risks related to the coronavirus crisis.
----
Published in terms of The Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC)
Publication Date: 14 April 2020
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/waste_management_guidance_dg-env.pdf
Copyright: © European Union, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/, 1998-2018
Last Updated: Friday 27 March 2020
Decision (EU) 2020/440 of the European Central Bank of 24 March 2020 on a temporary pandemic emergency purchase programme
Highlight:
The European Central Bank has published Decision (EU) 2020/440 of the European Central Bank of 24 March 2020 on a temporary pandemic emergency purchase programme (the "Decision").
The Decision attempts to cushion the effect of an economic crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, which could jeopardise the objective of price stability and the proper functioning of the monetary policy transmission mechanism by:
-launching a new temporary pandemic emergency purchase programme (the "PEPP") which includes all the asset categories eligible under the existing expanded asset purchase programme (the "APP")
-establishing an overall additional envelope of EUR 750 billion for the PEPP until the end of 2020
-stipulating that Eurosystem central banks must purchase eligible marketable debt securities, corporate bonds, marketable debt instruments, covered bonds and asset-backed securities unless explicitly provided otherwise
-stating the maturity requirements of eligible marketable public debt securities
-providing that purchases must be carried out under the PEPP to the extent necessary and proportionate to counter the threats posed by the extraordinary economic and market conditions
-stating that the Eurosystem must make securities purchased under the PEPP available for lending.
This notification has been included for information purposes. The Decision may not impose obligations on your organisation.
----
Published in terms of Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directive 2006/70/EC
Gazette Number L 91/1
Publication Date 25 March 2020
Effective Date 25 March 2020
Source: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2020/440/oj
Copyright: © European Union, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/, 1998-2018
Last Updated: Tuesday 17 March, 2020
Statement of the EDPB Chair on the processing of personal data in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak
Highlight:
The Chair of the European Data Protection Board has published the Statement of the EDPB Chair on the processing of personal data in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Statement ensures that the data controller protects the personal data of the data subjects by:
-setting out considerations to be taken into account to guarantee the lawful processing of personal data
-clarifying that the General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") enables employers and competent public health authorities to process personal data in the context of epidemics, without obtaining the consent of the data subject, when the processing of personal data is necessary for public health, to protect vital interests or to comply with another legal obligation
-stating that national laws implementing the ePrivacy Directive provide that location data can only be used by a mobile operator when they are made anonymous, or with the consent of the individuals.
----
Publication Date: 16 March 2020
Copyright: © European Union, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/, 1998-2018
LEAVE MESSAGE
CONTACT