Post-Brexit Options for UK Chemicals Law – Part 2

Geraint has more than 30 years of experience as a journalist covering environmental policy, with a particular focus on chemicals, business strategy and waste management. He started his career as a reporter for the international chemicals trade press before working at UK environmental policy journal The ENDS Report. He joined online global chemicals policy website Chemical Watch in 2008, becoming a member of the senior management team and head of journalism. At the end of last year he embarked on a freelance career.

Chloe Alexander has worked on UK chemicals policy and regulation at CHEM Trust since 2020. She previously worked as a senior UK parliamentary researcher working on environmental issues for over ten years, including on the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019 and the 2018 Agriculture Bill. She campaigned on issues affecting the creative sector from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, as Policy Development Officer at Equity and political consultant to the trade unions of the Performers Alliance.

Raminta Dereskeviciute is a counsel at a London’s office of a global law firm McDermott Will & Emery. She focuses her practice on product compliance and liability as well as trade regulation (sanctions and export controls). Ms Dereskeviciute advises global supply chains on the implications Brexit will have in relation to a range of regulatory compliance Issues.

Stefano Pennese is ReachCentrum’s Data Brokerage Director. He is currently coordinating activities around the ChemDataSharing platform and services. Prior to this role, Stefano spent over 8 years in the area of EHS&S Information Systems, working on various key processes including Product Stewardship, Incident Management, and Management of Change.

Ryan works with businesses in the materials and chemicals sectors so that the Government has a full understanding of their needs from trade policy and BEIS is able to represent their interests in negotiations and domestic policy discussions. His current focus is on communicating actions the Government recommends businesses should take to prepare for potential new trading arrangements and working with businesses as they plan. Ryan has previously worked in emergency response and health policy roles within the Civil Service. Before that he worked in the NHS.

Simon has recently joined the environment, chemicals regulation and product stewardship practice at Steptoe & Johnson. With a first-class joint honours degree in chemistry and law, Simon has developed particular expertise in EU and UK regulations on the control of chemicals and products, such as REACH and RoHS, supply chain risk, and liability arising from chemicals in the environment. Simon is recommended in the leading legal directories where he is described as “super – especially on chemicals regulation” (Chambers 2021).

CBA a not-for-profit business organisation representing the independent chemical supply chain in the UK. Its member companies distribute, pack, and blend over four million tonnes of chemicals each year with a market value of almost three billion euros. Peter is a key industry advocate to governmental and regulatory authorities in the UK and Europe. He is the board member of the International Chemical Trade Association (ICTA) responsible for the security and resilience of the international chemical supply chain.

Susanne is partner at ERM. ERM supports sustained business success in a context where sustainability, environmental, health, safety and social performance expectations are rapidly increasing. As a Partner in ERM's UK & Ireland business, but with an EMEA remit, Susanne is focused on driving high-performance corporate sustainability strategies, producer responsibility and climate programmes for global companies at the cutting edge of advanced digital technology: from semi-conductor manufacturing, consumer electronics, telecoms and data centres, through to software providers, social media and tv and media content producers. Formally, Susanne was Associate Director, Climate, Environment and Sustainability at techUK, the business organisation for the UK’s technology sector. She was also a board member of the High Speed Sustainable Manufacturing Institute.

Steve George has worked for 33 years in the Aerospace and Defence industries, He has wide cross-functional experience through operating within a large multi-national enterprise and in working across industry sectors, with the European Commission, ECHA, UK officials and parliamentarians. Steve has chaired a REACH Authorisation consortium, held trade association director and officer roles, and chaired the European Aerospace and Defence REACH and Chemicals working group for 10 years. Steve has had good working relations with management at all levels of organisations, effectively communicating on difficult issues around Brexit and supply obsolescence. His “downstream” supply chain and complex product experience provides a valuable alternative perspective on chemical regulation challenges.