The Vietnamese government is in the process of amending the Law on Atomic Energy, originally issued in 2008, to harmonize with several newly enacted laws, establish a comprehensive regulatory framework governing nuclear energy in Vietnam, and serve as a legal basis to foster the implementation of ongoing and future nuclear projects in the country. The Ministry of Science and Technology has been assigned to lead the drafting of the amended Law on Atomic Energy. The second draft of the amended law (the “Draft”) was released in late February 2025 for public consultation to gather feedback from the community and stakeholders. Key Points The Draft introduces new regulations to ensure high standards of safe and secure use of nuclear materials, radioactive sources, medical and industrial irradiation, mining and processing of radioactive ores, and radioactive waste management, as well as requirements for enhancing capacity to prepare for and respond to radiation incidents and nuclear incidents. In addition, the Draft emphasizes environmental protection, public health in nuclear energy projects, and support for development and advancing nuclear technology capabilities in Vietnam together with enhancing international cooperation in this field. Below are some key points of the Draft: Approval and licensing requirements for nuclear facilities: The Draft requires investors or owners of nuclear facilities to obtain several permits and approvals as regulated by the government before implementation of construction or operation. Reporting obligations: In addition to periodic reports on operations, safety measures, and compliance with regulations, nuclear facilities are required to make, maintain, and update a number of their regular records related to radiation and nuclear safety for ad hoc reports when required by the competent authorities. In this respect, any incidents or deviations from standard procedures must be reported immediately to the relevant authorities. Training and certification: Personnel working in nuclear facilities as

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will officially add USD Coin (USDC) and Tether (USDT) to its list of approved cryptocurrencies for use in digital asset transactions on March 16, 2025. The addition is a significant move that expands Thailand’s digital asset market, aiming to enhance market flexibility and provide more payment options for investors and traders in Thailand’s digital asset ecosystem. Under the SEC regulations, digital asset operators, including digital token issuers, ICO portals, and digital asset exchanges, are only permitted to accept, conduct transactions with, and use “approved cryptocurrencies” as trading pairs. After the addition of USDC and USDT, the full list of approved cryptocurrencies will include: Bitcoin (BTC) Ethereum (ETH) Ripple (XRP) Stellar (XLM) Tether (USDT) USD Coin (USDC) Other cryptocurrencies used for testing programmable payments under the enhanced regulatory sandbox in accordance with the Bank of Thailand’s rules and conditions. For more information on these new additions, or on any aspect of digital assets and cryptocurrency in Thailand, please contact Kobkit Thienpreecha at [email protected], Pornpan Wichawut at [email protected], Napassorn Lertussavavivat at [email protected], or Rujaporn Paritsantik at [email protected].

On November 22, 2024, the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Laos issued Decision No. 3730/MOH, which regulates the management, processing, production, and use of biopharmaceutical products, genes, and stem cells. This decision came into force on January 18, 2025, 45 days after its publication in the Lao Official Gazette on December 4, 2024. This decision signifies Laos’ recognition and acceptance of biopharmaceutical products, genes, and stem cells for use in medical treatments and the beauty industry, and it aligns with the ongoing development of biomedical sciences in the country. Definitions The MOH’s decision defines biopharmaceuticals, gene therapy, and stem cells as follows: “Biopharmaceutical products” refers to a type of biological or drug product that is produced or synthesized from natural substances, objects, or chemicals. This group of products includes blood, blood components, allergens, cells or cellular components, gene therapies, tissues, protein-based medicines, drugs derived from living cells, and biologics, which can be produced from sugars, proteins, amino acids, or substances with complex characteristics derived from organic sources such as human, animal, and plant parts; yeast; and microorganisms. These products exclude vaccines and biosimilar products, which will be specified under separate regulations. “Gene therapy” refers to a treatment approach that applies the principle of arranging amino acids (which could involve DNA or RNA sent to the patient’s cells in the form of a drug with the purpose of treating a certain disease). “Stem cells” are defined in the decision as cells or immature cells that can be sourced from various organs in the They are characterized by being undifferentiated, having the potential for differentiation, and being self-renewing. Stem Cell Production The decision outlines comprehensive provisions for managing and using raw materials in stem cell production. Key points include: Production location standards: Ensuring facilities meet specific standards of the MOH. Personnel

Vietnam’s Decree No. 163/2024/ND-CP (Decree 163), which has been in full effect since January 1, 2025, provides crucial guidance on the implementation of Vietnam’s 2023 Telecom Law. Decree 163 replaced Decree No. 25/2011/ND-CP dated April 6, 2011 (Decree 25), which guided the implementation of the previous 2009 Telecom Law, and introduces many notable changes to the regulations on telecom service provision. Some key changes that will impact businesses engaged in the telecom sector in Vietnam are detailed below. 1. Classification of Telecom Services The classification of telecom services into “basic telecom services” and “value-added telecom services” has been retained, in alignment with Vietnam’s WTO commitments in the telecom sector. However, Decree 163 expands the scope of both categories, as follows: Basic telecom services: “Transmission services for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication” and “leasing services of all or part of the telecom network” are added. “Image transmission services” is changed to “transmission services for radio and television.” Value-added telecom services: “Data center services,” “cloud computing services,” and “basic telecom services over the internet” (also known as over-the-top (OTT) telecom services) are added. 2. M2M Communication Services Since M2M communication services are classified as basic telecom services, without exception, they are subject to the same regulatory framework. Specifically: Cross-border provision: M2M communication services provided across borders must be conducted through a commercial agreement with a Vietnamese telecom enterprise licensed to provide telecom services with an international communication scope. Onshore provision: Onshore M2M communication services will require a telecom license. 3. New Telecom Services (Data Center, Cloud, and OTT Telecom Services) The 2023 Telecom Law adopted a light-touch management approach for data center, cloud, and OTT telecom services by not requiring the same licensing as previously regulated value-added telecom services, but instead mandating registration or notification before service provision. Decree 163 offers clearer guidance