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January 16, 2017

WEBINAR – – Chemical Substance Regulation in Central and South America: A Deeper Dive

The ACTA Group

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Thursday, February 16, 2017, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time


The Central and South American chemical regulatory environment continues to be one that is challenging to understand, navigate, and manage from a business perspective.  These challenges most often stem from one of three aspects:  a lack of knowledge concerning the regulatory and governmental authority structure; a challenge in determining which regulations (local, national, and/or trade bloc) apply; and obtaining the applicable regulations, and a translation thereof, in a timely manner.  As a result, many foreign-based companies are hamstrung in their operations in the region — wanting to be fully compliant, but facing a daunting obstacle course toward compliance.

The Acta Group (Acta®) can help you find pathways of progress in the region.  We are pleased to offer our clients, associated businesses, and corporate product stewards and regulatory personnel a follow-up to our November 2016 webinar “Current Opportunities and Challenges with Chemical Substance Regulation in Mexico and Central and South America.

This second webinar, “Chemical Substance Regulation in Central and South America:  A Deeper Dive,” will examine the chemical substance regulations of several additional countries in the region, whose regulatory environments are generally not well-known or understood.  Exploring the requirements of Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Uruguay, and Venezuela, the webinar will present a comprehensive overview of the key requirements that firms should be aware of when manufacturing or importing chemical substances.  Among the topics will be the status of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling (GHS) implementation, the development of chemical substance inventories, product stewardship efforts, key worker and workplace safety regulations, and related issues such as pesticide, packaging, and food contact legislation.

The one-hour webinar will conclude with a discussion of key emerging issues in the region for both 2017 and beyond.  The webinar, moderated by Lynn L. Bergeson, President, Acta, and presented by Michael S. Wenk, M.S., and Karin F. Baron, MSPH, both Senior Regulatory Consultants, Acta, will consist of 45 minutes of presentation with a 15-minute Q&A period at the end.


Topics Covered:

  • Chemical substance regulation in Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Uruguay, and Venezuela;
  • Common regional regulatory themes;
  • Regulatory structures, ministries, agencies, and their roles;
  • Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and GHS;
  • Food contact;
  • Pesticides and fertilizers;
  • Unique and localized regulations, and
  • Emerging issues for 2017 and beyond.

Presenters:  

Michael S. Wenk, M.S., Senior Regulatory Consultant, Acta
Karin F. Baron, MSPH, Senior Regulatory Consultant, Acta

Michael S. Wenk, M.S., is an internationally-recognized expert in chemical registration and regulation in Central and South America and the Middle East.  Through his career managing global regulatory affairs and product stewardship divisions at Fortune 500 chemical and chemical product companies and as a consultant, Mr. Wenk has developed direct regulatory authority contacts in, and thorough knowledge of the regulatory and cultural characteristics of, Mexico and Central and South America.

Karin F. Baron, MSPH, has more than 15 years’ experience developing, implementing, and managing complex chemical regulatory compliance matters for some of the largest industrial and specialty chemical companies in the world. Ms. Baron’s knowledge of the regulatory and cultural nuances of many regions can assist clients in gaining and maintaining competitive advantage across multiple jurisdictions, especially in the areas of hazard and risk assessment and communication, industrial hygiene and environmental health and safety (EHS) programs, regulations pertaining to food contact materials, and GHS including compliant SDSs.

The Acta Group (Acta®) assists chemical and product manufacturers in marketing and sustaining their products globally.  From offices in the U.S., the European Union, and Asia, we support our clients’ products from concept to approval so they get to market quickly and efficiently and stay there when challenged by a new issue or set of rules.  Acta is the consulting affiliate of Washington, D.C.-based law firm Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.