Key Regulatory Updates: Europe, Asia and the Americas

Sok-Han gains her industry experience as an independent regulatory affairs consultant, with a focus on Japan, South Korea and other Asian markets. She serves as a conduit between the Japanese market and the rest of the world, assisting industry in navigating through complex compliance frameworks. Her specialty is in food and beverage, food contact, health supplement and cosmetic products. Sok-Han is a fluent speaker of Cantonese, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin.

Peter Day is a senior policy advisor within the EPA’s regulatory policy team.  Peter is responsible for developing operational policy related to chemicals management in New Zealand under the Hazardous Substance and New Organisms Act (HSNO). 

For the past 11 years, Jacki has worked with the Office of Chemical Safety in the regulation of industrial chemicals in Australia. Since the commencement of the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) in July 2020, she has primarily worked in compliance monitoring.

Ms. Lila Tao has worked in CIRS group for several years and has served numerous enterprises to comply with global chemical regulations, including China REACH, EU REACH, Global GHS, K-REACH, etc. She has rich experience on new substance registration under China MEE Order No. 7 and deep understanding on China MEE Order No. 12, with focus on data gap analysis, registration & testing strategies and how to comply with requests from Chinese authorities.

Lisa Zhong, DCST, master of Environment Engineering, graduated from the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences, support clients with chemical regulatory affairs for 12 years. She has expertise in chemical compliance fields including new chemicals, hazard chemicals, biocides etc, and is highly experienced at formulating regulatory compliance solutions and strategies for clients.

Jeff Li is a Principle Scientist with nearly 14 years experience in Procter & Gamble, specialising in chemical regulations in Asia. He has been the technical source for Procter & Gamble Asia chemical compliance strategies, and is also actively involved in tracking and shaping existing and emerging chemical legislations from the region. He has a chemistry background and received his Bachelor degree and PhD from Tsinghua University in China.

Dr. Lingzhen (Ling) Dong joined Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in 2013 as the Sr. Director of Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability (EHS&S) in the Asia Pacific region. She served as the AP region product stewardship director since 2017 and has focused on Asia Pacific Region Environmental Product Compliance and Sustainability from May 2021.

Gagan is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the chemical & product regulatory compliance. Currently serving as the Managing Director of REACHLaw’s Indian subsidiary, Gagan excels in leading sales efforts, enhancing operational efficiency, managing risks, fosters stakeholder relationships, and ensuring compliance with international chemical & product regulations. In addition to his role at REACHLaw, Gagan served as a Technical Consultant for Chemexcil, a government-appointed export promotion council. In this capacity, he advises on Trade and Chemical/GHS Regulations in the EU, Turkey, Korea, the UK, and India, leveraging his deep industry knowledge and REACH expertise. Gagan holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) New Delhi. He also possesses a certificate in Advanced Program in Supply Chain Management and a Diploma in Corporate Governance from the Corporate Governance Institute, Ireland.

Junho Lee is a Director at CIRS Group Korea and has 18 years of international experience specializing in the field of chemical regulations, standards and certifications in Korea, China and Europe. He has supported industry on major chemical regulatory updates around the world starting with EU REACH, and now Korea’s K-REACH.

Jowitt Li is associated with the Safety and Health Technology Center (SAHTECH) as senior researcher and Director of Chemical Safety.  His main area of responsibilities includes hazard communication, chemical exposure assessment, and technical support to competent authorities on chemical management scheme development.

Dr. Piyatida (Tung) Pukclai has worked in several technical and managerial positions within the Business Development and Regulatory Policy. Currently, she is Asia-Pacific Lead for Regulatory Policy and Business Development of knoell, an independent service provider for Regulatory Affairs and Product Registration over 25 years.

Willi has over 30 years’ experience in the Chemical industry. In his long carrier he has held positions in R&D, Technical Customer Service and Business Development. At the same time as the EU REACH white book was published, he moved into Product Compliance in 2006. Willi has been involved in all sorts of Product Stewardship topics on an international scale, such as REACH, GHS, Biocides, Transport classification, import and export regulations ever since.   

Bob Diderich has been involved in environmental hazard and risk assessment of chemical substances since 1992. In 2002 he joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development where he was in charge of the OECD Cooperative Chemicals Assessment Programme and the OECD Project on (Quantitative) Structure Activity Relationships. Since 2012 he is the head of the Environment, Health and Safety Division.

Dr. Hase has worked for Kao as internal SAICM committee secretariate and Chemicals Regulatory Affairs. Her main area includes chemical management promotion under ESG strategy, global chemical notification, environment risk assessment, regulatory science and communication with stakeholder including consumer, industries and authorities.

Kate Lowe joined the regulatory information service Chemical Watch News & Insight as managing editor in 2020, becoming head of editorial in 2022. A politics graduate, she has worked as an editor, launch editor and business director across numerous business and professional sectors. These include commercial property, information technology, estates management, social care and, most recently, commercial horticulture where she campaigned successfully to secure public funds for applied agricultural research.  

Dr Bernadette Quinn is an expert in the analysis of alternatives and is project manager for the authorisation team at REACHLaw. The team provides a range of services from preparing applications for authorisation, exemption analysis, scoping studies to technical advocacy for clients. Prior to joining REACHLaw, she worked at ECHA for 10 years in the registration and risk management directorates. She contributed to the development of guidance relating to substance identification, nanomaterials and participated in projects with DG JRC relating to the revision of the REACH annexes for nanomaterials.

Thomas Delille supports individual companies and industrial associations in the legal challenges triggered by a variety of EU regulations, with a strong focus on chemicals and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) legislations. Thomas’ practice covers the full life cycle of regulations, from influencing the inception of EU acts or decisions, to developing compliance strategies to address existing regulations. Thomas has solid EU litigation experience before EU Courts, as well as the Board of Appeal of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on REACH and CLP matters. In addition, Thomas has developed longstanding expertise in addressing complex due diligence obligations in the context of biodiversity legislations (Nagoya Protocol), allowing Thomas to support clients on emerging due diligence obligations in the ESG context (EU Batteries Regulation, Deforestation and the upcoming CS3D).

Ruxandra defends industry interests towards legal and regulatory challenges to EU market access. Her practice is focused on EU regulatory law and litigation with a strong emphasis on product, environmental and sustainability regulations, across a large number of sectors ranging from raw materials (chemicals, minerals) to products such as electronics, consumer apparel, medical devices, cosmetics, food and food contact materials. Ruxandra also advises on supply-chain related matters, in particular environmental and regulatory. Although rules and regulations apply per jurisdiction, companies operate globally – her expertise and advice assist companies address global challenges and risks. Ruxandra’s litigation experience is extensive (she defended close to 100 actions before the European Court of Justice and before the Board of Appeal of ECHA), and she has formed and continues to act as a trusted advisor to more than 30 industry groups.

Darren enables clients throughout the chemicals and life sciences supply chain to get and keep their products on the European market (both in the UK and the EU). He provides a global clientele (companies, consortia and trade associations) with strategic advice, undertakes advocacy before public authorities and agencies and litigates before courts and tribunals (including the ECHA board of appeal and CJEU). Darren has a wealth of experience with regulation of biocidal products, plant protection products, REACH, CLP, food and feed, GMOs and wider aspects of environmental law, including extensive work with the Aarhus convention. He loves tackling “impossible” problems, learning new fields and working in multi-disciplinary client teams, with scientists, business leaders, regulatory and public affairs specialists and (even other) lawyers.

Hannah Senior Associate at Steptoe and member of the Brussels Bar (Dutch section)advises clients on EU regulatory compliance questions in the areas of chemical and product regulations, including REACH, CLP, biocides, plant protection products, and fertilizers.

Paula Diaz is a Regulatory Affairs Manager at the Association of the European Adhesive & Sealant Industry (FEICA). At FEICA, Paula focuses on REACH and CLP related topics, including Poison Centers, Polymers Requiring Registration, Mixtures assessment and the implementation of the PU restriction.

Heidi started working at the European Chemicals Agency in the Dossier Submission unit in 2009. Since 2017 she has worked in the Poison Centre Team implementing Annex VIII to the CLP Regulation and was involved in establishing and leading in a number of stakeholder working groups, in particular, towards developing the European product categorisation system. Today she is involved in a number of Annex VIII activities including IT tool development, industry support and communications, and regulatory guidance.

Jacopo Salvaterra is Public Affairs Manager at Cefic, since he joined in October 2020. He is supporting several sector groups on the development and implementation of their advocacy strategies, mainly in relation to REACH and CLP Regulations. He is currently leading advocacy on the Sustainable Products Initiative. Prior to this, he worked as a public affairs consultant, in Brussels. His portfolio included several companies and clients in the chemical sector, covering advocacy and regulatory issues at the EU (REACH, CLP, ROHS, POP) and international level (UN Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions). He has a background in political science, holding a Master Degree in European Studies and a Master Degree in International Public Affairs.

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.

Frederik is responsible for REACHLaw Sales. Since 2004, he has been working in depth with EU Chemicals Regulations: REACH and CLP as well as REACH-like regulations globally including UK REACH, Turkey KKDIK and Eurasia REACH. As of late, the interphase between product and waste legislation has also become an area of interest.

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).

David leads Veeva’s Regulatory Strategy practice for the European Chemical Industry. In this role he partners with Europe’s leading chemical companies to help them reimagine how they deliver product compliance with efficiency, speed, and end-to-end transparency. Before joining Veeva, David worked at Novozymes Global Regulatory Affairs where he led the strategy to transition towards a digital operating model. He also worked as a management consultant at Deloitte where he specialized in organization transformation. David holds a MSc in International Business and Politics from Copenhagen Business School where he focused on transnational governance, nonmarket strategy, and regulatory lobbying in the European Union.

Andrew Brooks has been advising companies on the legal requirements relating to the supply of chemical products in the European Union (EU) for nearly a decade. His expertise spans many different product types and industry sectors. He helps many companies navigate complex regulatory requirements in order to successfully launch new products, maintain compliance for existing products and identify key future challenges.

Martina Schneider earned her doctorate in environmental chemistry at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany. Her education included laboratory studies and modeling work on the environmental fate of organic compounds, such as pesticides.

David has recently retired after 35 years in global legislative processes, and a wide range of experience of EU biocide committees, working groups and technical workshops. In addition to his recent role as Senior Regulatory Analyst in Chemical Watch he worked for just under 20 years at UK HSE (UK Competent Authority for Biocides) as well as 7 years in industry and 5 years as a consultant.

Terry has spent more than 15 years as a reporter, editor and digital news team leader providing information for legal and regulatory professionals across a variety of topics, including health care, clean energy and climate change, occupational health and toxic substances. He joined Chemical Watch News & Insight in 2020.

Erik’s practice centers on providing effective legal advocacy and advice on environmental, workplace, and product regulations, laws, and litigation involving chemicals, hazardous waste, product stewardship, transportation of articles, endangered species, air emissions, discharges to water, and pesticides. Erik is known and acclaimed for his savvy at creating successful advocacy strategies and submissions for desired regulatory outcomes, his litigation instincts and talent for presenting highly persuasive arguments to the courts, his deep understanding of not only the regulations but also the regulators, his endless efforts to generate value for clients while working efficiently and effectively, and his ability to translate his strong interpersonal skills to work constructively with regulators and legislators of all affiliations.

W. Caffey Norman’s environmental practice focuses on the regulation of hazardous chemicals by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and various state regulatory agencies. He has been particularly active in the subject areas of toxic substances, stratospheric ozone depletion, and global warming. For many years he has developed and successfully implemented strategies to defend products targeted for phase out or use reduction. He has participated in EPA rulemakings to regulate hazardous substances under all the environmental statutes and has initiated legislative and judicial review of a number of EPA regulations. Mr. Norman has also represented industry task forces in connection with pesticide registration and the negotiation of test rules and testing consent orders. Mr. Norman has successfully challenged a number of regulations in the U.S. Courts of Appeals.

During a 36 year career Jeff held a variety of positions in Rohm and Haas and Dow Chemical including global regulatory specialist and global product stewardship manager for the Coatings Division. In 2013 he was named corporate TSCA manager for Dow Chemical. After retiring from Dow in 2016 he joined knoell USA, LLC as a Senior Regulatory Scientist.

Dr. Passarella is an expert strategist in navigating international chemical regulations.  At Intertek, she uses her chemical and legal experience and skill at interpreting complex chemical regulations to design and implement effective policies to protect client’s products.  During her career, Dr. Passarella has advocated for sustainable chemical management to enable the manufacture and sale of products in US and global markets. After completing her Ph.D. in chemistry, she formulated products, managed R&D groups, and managed global Product Stewardship and Sustainability. It was during this time that she pursued a law degree at night school, and is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Her combination of industry experience, and an in-depth knowledge of chemistry and the law enables her to translate regulatory trends and requirements into business and compliance action plans.

Jonathan Gledhill is the President of Policy Navigation Group. He has advised trade associations and Fortune 100 clients on regulatory policy issues for over ten years. Prior to founding Policy Navigation Group, Mr. Gledhill worked at The EOP Group in Washington, DC. Prior to The EOP Group, Mr. Gledhill worked in the Natural Resources Branch of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for over four years reviewing regulatory, policy, and economic issues. Mr. Gledhill was the primary analyst for all hazardous and solid waste regulations and policies for OMB. Other issue areas included Superfund, the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, housing standards, and underground injection regulation. Mr. Gledhill was recognized and awarded for outstanding professional achievement each year of his employment at OMB.

Carolyn has served as Deputy Executive Director of ECOS since 2008. Prior to that she was a Senior Project Manager at ECOS for five years. Previously she worked for the Smithsonian Institution and taught high school chemistry. She holds an MPA and certificate in nonprofit management from George Mason University and graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College with a BS degree in chemistry.

Nhat Nguyen is a US licensed attorney with over 9 years of global regulatory compliance. He currently serves as the Chief Analyst for Enhesa Product Intelligence and leads a new department which provides further insights and solutions to Enhesa Product Intelligence's customers on regulatory compliance, technology and scientific data regarding chemical and chemical products. 

Dan Bastien is a subject matter expert in Canada with specific experience in the Chemical Management Plan. Dan serves as Senior Director of the Chemicals Group at Intertek Health Sciences, Inc. In this role, he delivers business development expertise, expert advice and direction to clients who seek support in understanding and complying with a wide variety of global chemical control legislation and regulatory initiatives. He works closely with the Chemicals team of regulatory and scientific experts who help clients address challenging regulatory climates and demanding marketplaces, in a timely and cost-effective manner.