Post-Brexit Options for UK Chemicals Law

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.

Dr Michael Warhurst has been Executive Director of CHEM Trust since July 2014, leading the organisation and working with his team and other NGOs to improve EU chemical policies such as REACH and chemicals in food contact materials.

Silvia leads CIA’s policy work on REACH and biocides legislation and provides advice to member companies on legislative compliance. She is also a member of the REACHReady team, the wholly owned subsidiary of the CIA formed in 2006 to provide support to companies affected by REACH. Silvia has a master’s degree in Materials Engineering and joined CIA in 2008. Previous work experience includes the position of technical and regulatory affairs manager in the engineering plastics business unit of a chemical company, where she was responsible for managing the technical customer service and ensuring products’ compliance with technical standards as well as chemicals management legislation.

Jonathan Swindell leads on the topic of post-Brexit REACH Regulations for the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), and for the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Through his past work in the USA, Germany and the UK, Jonathan has gained over 27 years’ experience in managing chemicals regulations both in consultancy, and within the automotive, chemical and steel industries. Since 2013 Jonathan has held the role of Product Stewardship Manager at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), based in Warwickshire, UK, where he manages JLR’s Product Environmental Regulations Team and specialises in chemicals regulatory compliance, chemicals approvals, and export classification.

Simon Johnson is a career civil servant in Defra. In previous jobs over the last ten years, he has been a senior policy adviser working on regional and local food strategies; international trade and the circular economy. All of which involved working closely with counterparts within the EU and at a global level. Since November 2016 Simon has been working in the Chemical, Pesticides and Hazardous Waste Team in which he heads up the Internal and Cross-Whitehall Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Team.

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

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.

Paul is a chemist by training and, having spent 15 years in the chemical industry in a variety of technical and commercial roles, left in 1994 to form his own consultancy, Caleb, working on the interface between regulators, industry and NGOs to facilitate the development of sustainable chemistry solutions to current human health and environmental challenges.

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.

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).

Helen joined Anthesis in May 2015 as Technical Director and oversees the day-to-day operation of the team in Europe which supports clients in chemical compliance, strategy development and improving ways to manage chemicals of concern in products, processes, supply chains and data valuation. In her previous role for a multinational company she was primarily responsible for ensuring the company’s compliance with European regulations including CLP, REACH and BPR liaising with the business and customers to manage the regulatory risks associated with the product portfolio and the downstream uses globally. She has valuable experience of working in consortia and trade associations and with the advent of REACH-like systems in Asia, understands the challenges of data-sharing globally.