Plastics and Paper in Contact with Foodstuffs (P&P) returned in 2022, over 150 food contact representatives joined us at Plastics and Paper in Contact with Foodstuffs Conference 2022. As the key meeting hub for the food contact industry, the conference provided a unique opportunity for delegates to get the latest industry information and network face-to-face with global experts
2022 highlights included:
Rachida Semail counsels clients on the regulatory status of food packaging and food related matters in the European Union (EU) and around the globe. This includes food contact, drinking water contact, and compliance relating to enzymes, flavourings, and food additive clearances. She also counsels clients on clearance, compliance, and packaging issues relating to cosmetics, drugs, and medical devices, as well as product recalls and other related issues, including biocides in food contact materials. Rachida has also expertise on the textiles and machinery directives.
Prior to joining Keller and Heckman, Rachida practiced regulatory law at a French law firm specializing in EU and French food law where she assisted clients on various food issues, such as labeling, claims, borderline products, novel foods. During her doctorate studies, she completed an internship with the legal service of the European Commission in Brussels, where she gained a first-hand perspective of policymaking and the legislative process, while completing her doctorate thesis.
Bio to follow
Tom Gillett advises clients on a wide range of environmental law, with a focus on chemicals regulation and product regimes (including REACH, biocides, food contact, product standards and CE/UKCA marking) in both the EU and the UK.
With a background in complex and technical contentious environmental law (including contaminated land, pollution incidents, environmental permitting and waste regulation), Tom is well placed to help clients navigate regulatory investigations, appeals and tribunal hearings, as well as to advise on regulatory compliance, data sharing, consortium management, and supply chain due diligence.
The Legal 500 UK, 2022, quotes one client as saying "I have worked with Tom Gillett and have found him to be diligent and knowledgeable in this developing area. As well as providing clear advice on a one to one basis, I also find his contributions in seminars and panel discussions useful and valuable."
Tom advises clients on a wide range of environmental and product safety law, with a focus on chemicals and products (including FCM, product standards and labelling, and packaging) in both the EU and the UK. With a background in complex and technical contentious environmental law, Tom assists clients to achieve and maintain market access, and navigate regulatory investigations and hearings.
Joan Baughan practices food and drug law, focusing on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and comparable international regulation of food contact materials, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices. With a distinctive legal and scientific background in microbiology and medical technology, Joan helps clients establish regulatory compliance for their products globally, performs compliance audits and training seminars, and represents companies and trade associations before US agencies and their international counterparts.
In addition to her FDA experience, Joan developed substantial experience counselling clients on the regulation of food packaging materials and medicinal products under European Union and Member State legislation while working in Brussels. She has been assisting clients with EU food-contact matters, and with similar matters in MERCOSUR, China, and Japan, for decades. Because she has considerable experience with food packaging legislation in many jurisdictions, she is uniquely qualified to assist companies with global needs.
She is also an accomplished writer within the food and drug arena. For example, she is a chapter contributor and the sole editor of the comprehensive food packaging book, "Global Legislation for Food Contact Materials.” The second edition of this essential reference for industry stakeholders was published earlier this year. Joan frequently speaks at international conferences on various FDA and related regulatory topics.
Erwin Wetzel is both an Austrian and French national. Native speaker in German and French , he is also fluent in English, and has a proficient use of Spanish. He holds two Master Degrees, one in Political Science from the University of Innsbruck, and a Masters of Arts in European Political and Administrative Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. Before working for the EVA, Erwin had several professional experiences, assisting Members of the European Parliament, and the Committee of the Regions. He also worked for the Federation of Austrian Municipalities.
Erwin started his career with the EVA as Regulatory Affairs Manager in February 2011, then worked as Deputy Director in September 2012. He has been the EVA Director General since January 2014.
His main responsibilities are the general management of the Association and the leading of the strategic communication. He is also in charge of several committees & working groups.
You can contact Erwin for any questions and membership enquiries at ew@vending-europe.eu
Lydia studied food chemistry at TU Dresden, Germany. After graduating in 2009, she continued to work at the TU Dresden as a research assistant / PhD candidate in the field of printing inks and contaminants from recycling paper (BPA, optical brightener, PAHs) at the Chair of Food Science and Consumer Products. After her 2nd state examination in 2015, she now works at the Chemical and Veterinary Official Control Laboratory Stuttgart (CVUA Stuttgart) as a laboratory manager in the department of consumer products. Her main area of responsibility is method development in the field of gas chromatography for FCM and non-food products, as well as supervision of the research project to establish mineral oil analysis at CVUA Stuttgart since 2017. She also participates in many national and international committees and is an appointed member of the Commission of Consumer Products of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) since 2018.
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington.
