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Each month, we leverage data from our Horizon Scanning Regulatory Deadlines Calendar to bring you a glimpse of the key response deadlines and legislation effective dates coming up, so you can plan and take action around some of the most important regulatory developments unfolding right now.

In February, there are 37 regulatory deadlines on the horizon — with 22 key consultation periods coming to an end and requiring a response, and 15 actionable deadlines to be aware of coming into effect.

What are the regulatory deadlines to watch in February?

Albania

On December 19, 2024, the Albanian parliament approved the Law “On the Protection of Personal Data” (No. 124/2024), fully aligning Albanian legislation with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The implementation of this law also fulfils one of the requirements for Albania’s integration into the European Union. The law comes into force 15 days after its publication in the official gazette, on February 1, 2025. Specific provisions related to personal data breach notifications will come into force two years after publication.

European Union

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) have published Joint Guidelines under the Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (Markets in Crypto-Assets - MiCA), effective February 4, 2025. These guidelines set detailed criteria for assessing the suitability of management body members for Asset-Referenced Tokens (ARTs) issuers and Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs). They cover aspects such as good repute, competence, experience, and conflict of interest management, with a proportionality approach based on an entity’s size and complexity.

Saudi Arabia

On November 13, 2024, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced the issuance of electronic wallet (E-Wallet) rules. According to the SAMA press release, the rules set out the relevant regulatory requirements that licensed electronic money institutions (EMIs) must comply with to protect market participants and support EMIs in providing services that enhance the sector’s safety and stability. The rules, published on November 17, include provisions and obligations related to the requirements for opening E-Wallets, the verification of clients’ identities, and considerations for classifying and managing inactive wallets. These rules apply to companies licensed by SAMA to provide E-Wallet services in the Kingdom and will come into effect 90 days after the publication of the rules, February 15, 2025.

Costa Rica

On December 20, 2024, the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) published the Payment Card System Regulation, a comprehensive regulatory framework for the country’s payment card system. The regulation includes a suite of provisions designed to strengthen the efficiency and security of the payment card system. Effective February 20, 2025, acquirers must apply maximum local and cross-border acquiring fees (Articles 43 and 45). Card brands must also apply maximum local and cross-border interchange fees (Articles 42 and 44).

Argentina

On January 16, 2025, the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) announced the approval of a suite of regulations aimed at promoting currency competition by allowing for electronic retail payments to be made in US dollars within Argentina. The regulations stipulate that acquirers and sub-acquirers must develop and implement the technology necessary for merchants to accept debit card payments in US dollars by February 28, 2025.

The ����žž PaymentsCompliance Horizon Scanning tool shows you real-time updates on regulatory deadlines and trends across 140+ global jurisdictions, including all US states, at the click of a button. Its Regulatory Deadlines Calendar feature sets out effective dates for published legislation, closing dates for consultation periods on proposed regulatory developments, and deadlines for specific requests for information by regulatory authorities.

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‍We’ve only shown you a snapshot of February’s deadlines.

Want to see them all? Book a demo with a member of our team, who can show you the full Regulatory Deadlines Calendar for this month.