Global Scans · Standards · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Improving standards are likely to be driven more by business and technological improvement than governments in the future. The latter will be under severe pressure to cut bureaucracy, speed policy making and improve their nation's productivity performance.

• [New] The SEC and CFTC will hold a joint event on regulatory harmonization today, with Atkins and Selig signaling a push for clearer rules in the digital asset space. Crypto Briefing
• [New] The EU's AI Act imposes strict risk classifications and obligations for high-risk and general-purpose AI systems, while U.S. policy continues to favor a standards-based approach anchored in NIST frameworks. Hstoday
• [New] Shield's 2026 Compliance Outlook sets a clear premise: in 2026, compliance will not be judged by intent but by evidence, with regulators looking at data integrity, employee behaviour, system architecture, and vendor relationships as a connected control picture. A-Team
• [New] The National Institute of Standards and Technology has adopted updated Federal Information Processing Standards and recommended their implementation across government and critical infrastructures by 2035, noting that some entities may need to comply sooner. IAPP.org
• [New] Quantum computing could render today's encryption standards RSA and ECC obsolete as sophisticated adversaries execute harvest-now, decrypt-later campaigns, stockpiling encrypted data today with the expectation of decrypting it once quantum systems mature. ThePromptBuddy
• [New] Cross border integrations will need disciplined attention to data location, data flows, localization and evolving EU and UK rules on interoperability and switching, including under the EU Data Act. CRS
• [New] The task force has said its work will focus on modernizing rules for crypto service providers, tightening inspections of non-compliant exchanges, and aligning South Korea more closely with international standards, such as the Financial Action Task Force's travel rule. The Cool Down
• [New] Canada is stepping up efforts to manage the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, with new rules that could change how creators, platforms and everyday users interact online. Delta Optimist
• [New] Looking ahead, the DEC is developing regulations to implement New York's PFAS in Apparel Law, with proposed rules anticipated in 2026. JD Supra
• [New] In 2026, companies will no longer manage Rules of Origin, digital traceability, and IMMEX or VAT/IEPS controls as separate workstreams. Prodensa Servicios de Consultoria
• [New] Thailand plans to reveal national SAF standards in 2026. Fortune
• [New] China is emerging as a distinct AI jurisdiction with operational standards that are expected to continue tightening through 2026 and the coming years. Morrison Foerster LLP
• [New] Looking ahead through 2026, travelers can expect sharper, more behavior-focused safety messaging from airlines, tour providers and destinations. The Traveler
• [New] Strong national standards will enable AVs to reduce crashes, ease congestion and connect seniors and people with disabilities to jobs and services. / USA Antik Restaurant Plovdiv
• [New] Multiple competing approaches to pandemic preparedness may seem inefficient compared to unified global standards, but they provide the adaptive diversity necessary for responding to unknown future threats. Armstrong Economics
• [New] Attracting more American tourists will help raise service standards and encourage further investment in hospitality. The Traveler
• [New] Various technical organizations and institutions, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology and IBM, have outlined the mid-2030s as a time when fears over CRQCs will become more practical and real. Gizmodo
• [New] Medicines for weight management must meet rigorous standards of safety, quality and effectiveness before they could be authorised for use in the UK. The Guardian
• [New] In a move toward greater transparency, starting in July, Joint Commission standards will be available online and searchable by the public. AHE

Last updated: 05 February 2026