At a glance – Regulatory momentum accelerates worldwide as governments and international bodies introduce new safety, efficiency, and emissions mandates for energy, manufacturing, and transportation industries. In the last 24 hours, authorities in the U.K., Thailand, California, and global shipping have issued or finalized significant updates, with new frameworks targeting everything from appliance safety to net-zero shipping. These developments signal a new era of compliance complexity and opportunity for companies operating across borders, as standards rapidly evolve to address climate, safety, and technological innovation.
Technology advance – The United Kingdom and Thailand have both enacted sweeping updates to their safety and energy efficiency standards for industrial and consumer products, effective in the coming months. The U.K. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published S.I. 2025/497, amending Ecodesign and Energy Information Regulations for Northern Ireland to align with the latest European Union requirements. These changes introduce new energy labels, QR code-linked product registries, and updated standards for products such as local space heaters, fans, tumble dryers, and smartphones, with enforcement dates ranging from May 2025 to July 2026. Meanwhile, the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) announced mandatory safety and efficiency standards for hot and cool water dispensers, deep fat fryers, skin and hair care appliances, and microwave ovens, with enforcement beginning October 1, 2025. Manufacturers must now obtain TISI certification and display a QR-coded compliance mark, signaling a shift toward digital traceability and harmonized global benchmarks.
Partnerships – In California, the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (Energy Safety) has adopted its 2025 Safety Certification Guidelines, following extensive public consultation. These guidelines establish the requirements that electrical corporations must meet under PUC 8389(e) to obtain safety certification, a status that presumes reasonable conduct in wildfire cost recovery proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission. While the certification incentivizes investment in safety culture and wildfire risk reduction, it does not shield utilities from liability or guarantee full compliance with all mitigation plans. The collaborative process behind these guidelines, involving utilities, regulators, and public stakeholders, exemplifies the growing trend of multi-party engagement in setting and enforcing energy sector safety standards.
Acquisitions/expansions – The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved a landmark Net-zero Framework for global shipping, marking the first legally binding international regime to combine mandatory emissions limits and greenhouse gas (GHG) pricing across an entire industry. Approved during the Marine Environment Protection Committee’s 83rd session in April 2025, the framework introduces a new marine fuel standard and a global pricing mechanism for shipping emissions, targeting net-zero by 2050. This regulatory expansion is expected to drive significant investment in alternative fuels, vessel retrofits, and emissions abatement technologies, as shipping companies worldwide race to comply with the new requirements and capitalize on emerging low-carbon logistics markets.
Regulatory/policy – The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued several notable regulatory updates in the past quarter, with direct implications for manufacturing and construction. In January 2025, OSHA terminated its COVID-19 healthcare rulemaking, signaling a shift in focus toward broader workplace hazards. Recent months have seen the finalization of rules on proper fit requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) in construction and updates to the Hazard Communication Standard, enhancing protections for workers and first responders. OSHA has also extended the public comment period for its proposed heat injury and illness prevention rule, reflecting heightened regulatory attention to climate-related workplace risks. These developments underscore OSHA’s evolving approach to industrial safety, with new mandates on equipment, hazard communication, and environmental exposure.
Finance/business – The California Energy Commission has finalized the 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which will apply to all new residential building permits filed on or after January 1, 2026. The updated code expands the required use of heat pumps, mandates electric-readiness for new construction, and strengthens ventilation standards, representing a significant shift in the state’s approach to building electrification and decarbonization. These changes are expected to drive increased demand for compliant HVAC and building systems, while also presenting new compliance challenges for developers and manufacturers. The standards are part of California’s broader strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment, with direct financial implications for construction, real estate, and technology providers across the state.
Sources: UL Solutions, Energy Safety, California Energy Commission, OSHA, IMO, Thai Industrial Standards Institute
