Regulatory Updates: Middle East, Eurasia and Africa

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.

Olesia is part of both sales and business development and legal teams at REACHLaw, combining expertise in regulatory business strategy and corporate legal matters. She has an educational background in law and international business and has been with REACHLaw since 2010, working on global chemicals regulations and contract management. She has experience working with customers from various industries, including chemicals, petrochemicals, metals, and specialty chemicals, supporting them with regulatory and legal requirements. In addition to her role in business development, she is responsible for managing contracts and handling corporate legal matters within the company. In recent years, Olesia has focused on chemicals regulations outside the EU, including UK REACH, Turkey KKDIK, K-REACH, Ukraine REACH, and other global chemicals regulations, assisting companies with compliance. Olesia speaks English and Ukrainian fluently and has a good command of Finnish.

Tugce is a senior expert in regulatory compliance and the Deputy Director of REACH Global Services (RGS). With a total of 13 years of work experience, Tugce joined RGS in early 2013, right before the second deadline of REACH registrations. Under the rendered consultancy services, together with RGS team Tugce ensures that companies comply with the EU chemicals legislations (REACH, cosmetics) and Turkish chemicals regulations (SEA, KKDIK, SDS) as well as global chemicals legislations. Tugce holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and recently completed her MBA program. Before RGS, she worked at different companies on domestic and foreign trade as well as consignment sales.

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. 

Ivan is the head of ERM Eurasia Operations Performance Group and has more than 15 years of experience leading and implementing HSE performance improvement projects as well as products sustainability services. Ivan has extensive knowledge of regulations and policies in Russia and CIS countries, as well as international practices and trends. This enables him to offer optimal solutions and successfully adapt best practices to the realities of CIS countries in a culturally sensitive manner, which ensures sustainable results. In the recent years, Ivan has led a large number of projects related to chemicals management and consulting many clients on various aspects of the EEU Technical Regulation 041/2017. These included in-depth analysis of the changing requirements as well as preparation/formatting of chemical documents in order to provide solutions to foresee and mitigate possible impacts due to new requirements.

Dr. Kolesnichenko has over 35 years of professional work experience. Andrey has a broad knowledge of Russian and CIS countries Health, Safety, Chemicals management and product stewardship and Environmental regulations and policy issues as well as international practices. Andrey’s key focus is currently on chemicals management issues related to the intensive changes in the legislation in the EAEU and consulting on the entry into force of the Technical Regulation EAEU 041/2017. Key services include compilation of the chemicals inventory dossiers, classification of chemicals, development and adjustment of safety data sheets in compliance with the changing regulations etc.

Dr. Grigory Konin has 30 years’ experience in Chemical Industry. He has experienced in product stewardship and application supervision for the number of chemical product lines, such as: catalysts, oil & gas treatment specialties, paints & coatings, water treatment chemicals, etc. Since 2019 Dr. Konin has acted as the ERM’ Associate Consultant in Russia. Within 2.5 years he has been deeply involved into the projects related to Technical Regulation EAEU 041/2017, including the chemical substances inventory. Dr. Konin is Certified by CIS Center of Russia (Russian Product Stewardship Authorities) as the Specialist for Hazards Classification, Labeling and Safety Data Sheets development for Chemical Products according to Russian Standards. He is also Certified for preparation for the TR EAEU 041/2017 coming into force.

Emel Kasim provides research, analysis and monitoring of EHS-related governmental legislations and non-EHS related (food and beverages, materials and substances in contact with food contact and cosmetics) regulations in the Middle East and Africa region. She has a background in food engineering and master's in food business and consumer studies. According to needs, she authors written overviews of certain regulations and provides ad hoc consulting services.

Mr. Wenk is internationally recognized global product stewardship and regulatory affairs professional with over 27 years of experience successfully directing and developing domestic and international product stewardship and regulatory compliance programs in multiple Fortune 100 companies. He pairs extensive regulatory expertise with a well-developed understanding of corporate operations, providing a highly unique blend of business operations knowledge and technical acumen. Well-versed in corporate mergers and acquisitions, specifically regulatory due diligence for acquisition of global chemical manufacturing firms. Among these were a $200 million pulp and paper chemicals business as well as a $110 million polymer chemical manufacturing firm.

Shimshon Roth lives in Jerusalem, Israel and works remotely for global businesses providing regulatory monitoring services covering the Israeli chemicals control legislation.

Abdallah Abou-Haidar has been involved in the chemicals industry for 34 years. In 2002 he joined the Polymers Technical Marketing at SABIC, then transferred to Product Stewardship Department in 2014. Currently Abdallah is the Chairman of GPCA’S Product Stewardship Sub-Committee since 2017. He is actively involved with CEFIC and other UN agencies to implement GHS in Africa.

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.

Sibel works at REACHLaw Turkey as a Regulatory Affairs Manager. She holds a Ph.D., in organic chemistry and has more than 10 years’ experience in working on worldwide regulatory standards related to Environmental Health & Safety compliance of chemical products. She is an expert on Chemical Management and Chemical Management System design and implementation. In addition, she has knowledge and understanding of REACH Only Representation and supply chain communication. Her main areas of expertise include: EU REACH, KKDIK, Eurasia REACH and other global chemicals regulations.