Key Regulatory Updates Europe 2024

Leigh is Chemical Watch News & Insight's Managing Editor and was previously in charge of our global business coverage. Prior to joining the company, Leigh wrote for the Press Association, ICIS and edie.net, covering a range of environmental and business related topics.

Martin Hojsík is a vice-president of the European Parliament, member of the ENVI Committee and its official contact point for the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Paul Speight is the Head of the Safe and Sustainable Chemicals Unit in DG Environment of the European Commission.

Dunja Drmač currently works as a Senior Chemicals Legislation Manager in Cefic, on topics related to EU Chemicals Strategy for sustainability, namely REACH, and ESPR, enforcement matters.  

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).

Tatiana holds a Chemistry degree and both MSc. in Environmental Impact Assessment and Occupational Health Safety. She has been working in chemical risk issues, chemicals legislations, occupational health and safety, chemicals in the circular economy and substitution of hazardous chemicals for around 20 years.

As senior expert in the European Commission, DG Internal Market, Industry, Enterprise and SMEs, REACH Unit Otto Linher deals with the implementation of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and, in particular, the planned revision of the REACH Regulation.

Kastalie is a Policy Officer and Economist in the Safe and Sustainable Chemicals unit at the European Commission (DG ENV), where she focuses on files such as the essential use concept, substitution, the PFAS restriction(s), and socio-economic analysis in authorisation and restriction.

Ales Bartl, Partner, resident in the firm’s Brussels office, advises clients on regulatory compliance of a broad range of products marketed in Europe. Ales primarily focuses on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), the Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) regulation, Biocidal Products Regulation, Fertilizer Regulation, food law, regulation of electronic products, and product safety. He represents clients in the European Courts and in procedures before the Board of Appeal of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). He also represents clients in various proceedings before the ECHA, as well as before EU and national competent authorities on compliance and enforcement issues, including withdrawals and recalls of unsafe or non-compliant products.

Marko Sušnik is an advisor for chemical law and chemical policies. He is involved with REACH, CLP, national chemical law, nanotechnologies, biocides, pesticides and fertilizers. At the European level he works in numerous expert groups related to chemicals. His work is very much focused on the impact of European legislation on SMEs. From his professional training he is a chemist, specialized on organic chemistry and organic technologies. He finished his chemical education with a PhD in chemical engineering. 

David is an environmental policy and economics expert with nearly 20 years’ professional experience. He joined Logia group in 2020 to help establish and grow a new environmental policy and economics team. Prior to this he held equivalent roles in a multinational consultancy, in a think tank and public policy research and consultancy.

Elke is Founder and CEO of Apeiron with over 20 years of experience in the chemical industry and consultancy and is a specialist in process engineering, environmental technology, chemical regulation and the circular economy.

Torsten has 31 years of industry experience with adhesives, sealants and coatings at Sika AG in the fields of quality assurance, production processes, global supply chain and regulatory affairs.

André is Regulatory Affairs Manager at Colegate-Palmolive with previous roles managing regulatory affairs in the crop protection and biocides sectors.

Pierre Quiblier is Programme Officer at the Chemical and Health Branch of the United Nations Environment. He managed and coordinated the UNEP global publication of the Global Chemicals Outlook: Towards Sound Management of Chemicals. He led the development and organization, of the first inter-Ministerial Health and Environment Conference in Africa held in Libreville, Gabon, 2008 and the 2nd Conference held in Luanda, Angola, 2010. He developed and contributes to the implementation of the GEF financed ChemObs project. A prototype in nine African countries of national integrated health and environment observatories to provide timely and evidence-based information to better predict, prevent and reduce chemicals risk to human health and the environment.

Linda-Jean is a Netherlands based partner in ERM who specialises in sustainable products and circularity, and on advising on EU policy and strategy through a business resilience and enterprise lens. During her 15 years’ experience, including in industry, she has gained a strong track record in EU regulatory and business strategic services across multiple industry sectors. Linda-Jean is a member of ERM’s global PFAS risk management team and advises businesses and industry associations on the proposed EU ban of >10,000 PFAS substances and how to develop robust strategies to address the associated business risks.

Kim joined Enhesa Product Intelligence in 2023 and is responsible for overseeing and developing analytical content, tools and training courses to assist the industry in navigating through complex compliance frameworks for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Francesca holds a Master’s degree in Law with a specialization in European Union Law. She has extensive experience in regulatory affairs of cosmetics, medical devices, and consumer products. She has gained educational and professional experience in Italy, Belgium, Poland, and Russia. In her most recent job, she was holding a position as Regulatory Intelligence consultant leading the research on cosmetics regulatory updates.

Tess Renahan advises PETA Consortium International e.V. on advancing robust non-animal testing methods that protect human health and the environment, with a focus on the assessment of plant protection products and biocides in the EU and the UK.

Jake is currently the Head of High Throughput Experimentation (HTE) for the Care Chemicals business unit. Before joining Clariant he worked for Chemspeed Technologies, a supplier of leading edge lab automation & digitalization technologies.

Eléonore Mullier specializes in EU regulatory law and litigation. She advises clients who, whether based in the EU or not, come into contact with EU regulations affecting the placing on the EU market of their products. Eléonore's knowledge extends to the entire life-cycle of materials, from chemicals legislation (biocides, REACH, classification and labelling, POPs, PPPs, etc.) to product and waste legislation (CE marking, RoHS/WEEE, Ecodesign, medical devices, single use plastics, waste and end-of-waste). She also advises clients on the interface between these regulations and on cross-sectoral issues including the European Green Deal initiatives

Niraj is the founder and CEO of Viridium AI, a company dedicated to helping manufacturers eliminate harmful materials from their products and processes. A mechanical and production engineer by training, Niraj has over 20 years of experience in data and AI, leveraging technology to solve complex problems.

Jakob Windisch works as a policy officer in the department Chemicals Policy and Biocides of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology. His areas of responsibility include the REACH Regulation, Green Chemistry, and the Minamata Convention. A key aspect of his work is the intersection of REACH and Green Chemistry, where he is involved, among other things, in exploring the potential implementation of sustainability concepts into the REACH regulation.

Emil is a Senior Consultant at the Danish Technological Institute, holding a PhD in materials chemistry from Aarhus University. For the past 2.5 years, Emil has specialized in PFAS, focusing on substitution strategies and identifying alternatives in industries where PFAS replacement is particularly challenging, such as the use of fluoropolymers in high-performance applications.