EU CHEMICALS: DESCRIPTION

The Brussels office is extensively involved in advising and representing its clients on matters arising under existing EU chemicals legislation, including REACH. The chemicals practice concentrates in particular on representing clients in the field of product regulation, advising them on issues pertaining to the classification, packaging, and labeling of chemical substances and preparations, including safety data sheets, marketing, and use restrictions under Directive 76/769, workplace regulations, and product liability related issues, as well as questions relating to the free movement of goods and parallel imports.

Our attorneys represent numerous clients in matters involving chemical specific determinations made by the European Commission’s Classification and Labeling Working Groups. As part of our product defense services, we work with these clients to assure that the final decisions by the Working Groups reflect the proper application of law and science. Where such decisions fail one or both of these standards, we represent our clients in legal challenges before the EU courts.

The new REACH legislation has created significant new concerns for industry, both in the EU and abroad (particularly in the United States). We work to educate and advise our clients—in Europe, the U.S., and Asia—on these new provisions to help develope their compliance strategies.