PRINT

Karin F. Baron, MSPH, Director of Hazard Communication and International Registration Strategy with The Acta Group (Acta^®), has more than 20 years' experience developing, implementing, and managing complex chemical regulatory compliance matters for some of the largest industrial and specialty chemical companies in the world. Her primary areas of practice include hazard and risk assessment and communication, industrial hygiene and environmental health and safety (EHS) programs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations pertaining to food contact materials, and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), including compliant safety data sheets (SDS).

Ms. Baron provides clients with expert advice and guidance in a broad range of chemical-specific regulatory matters involving the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the European Union's (EU) Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), FDA, Canada's Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), and the transport of dangerous or hazardous goods. She has received certifications from the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council covering the U.S. Department of Transportation under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 C.F.R.), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG), and the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).

Ms. Baron's comprehensive grasp of the sometimes bewildering tangle of worldwide chemical control regulations is a powerful asset for clients bringing products to market in multiple jurisdictions. As Manager of Hazard Communications at International Specialty Products (ISP), Manager of FDA Compliance at Ciba Specialty Chemicals, and Product Safety Toxicologist and Global Health and Safety officer at Reichhold, Inc., Ms. Baron gained extensive, hands-on knowledge of how to commercialize a wide variety of chemical end products, distribute them globally, and manage the documentation necessary to maintain compliance. Clients rely on Ms. Baron's skillful project management to bring large projects to completion under tight deadlines and intense competitive pressures.

Representative Engagements:

• Developed a global labeling solution for a large chemical company, including regionally compliant labels in Asia, South America, the U.S., and the EU.
• Supported a large company-wide integration across multiple Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and provided hands-on support in the classification of thousands of chemicals under various classification criteria.
• Provided technical expertise and project management support, including direct agency interactions in completing food contact notifications for a client.

Professional & Community Involvement:

Member of the Society of Chemical Hazard Communications (SCHC) Board of Directors, 2022 –

Publications:

Carla N. Hutton and Karin F Baron, MSPH, “How Might EU Proposals on Harmonised Classification and Prioritisation of Chemicals for Classification Impact Industry?,” Chemical Watch, April 14, 2022.

Carla N. Hutton and Karin F. Baron, MSPH, “Expert Briefing: What could the European Commission’s plan to strengthen CLP mean for industry?,” Chemical Watch, August 2, 2021.

Lynn L. Bergeson, Bethami Auerbach, Lisa M. Campbell, Timothy D. Backstrom, Sheryl L. Dolan, Jane S. Vergnes, Richard E. Engler, Jayne P. Bultena, Karin F. Baron, Charles M. Auer, "The DNA of the U.S. Regulatory System: Are We Getting It Right for Synthetic Biology?," Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Synthetic Biology Project Report, October 15, 2015.

Hildeberto, Nava and Nelson-Baron, Karin F.  1999.  "Polyesters Prepared From Alkoxylated Intermediates," United States Patent 5,998,568.

Patton, David A., Schetter, Amy L., Franzmann, Linda H., Nelson, Karin, Ward, Eric R., Meinke, David W.  1998.  "An Embryo-Defective Mutant of Arabidopsis Disrupted in the Final Step of Biotin Synthesis." Plant Physiol. 116(3):935-946.  Note:  This article was published under Ms. Baron's former name, Karin F. Nelson.

Speaking Engagements:

“WEBINAR -- Food Safety Issues in the United States,” Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., (October 26, 2022).

“Situational Regulatory Awareness -- What to Do When a Single Chemical Product Is Subject to Three Major Regulations -- TSCA, FIFRA, and FFDCA,” NACD Pre-Conference Regulatory Workshop, (August 17, 2022).

“Evaluating New Chemicals and Disconnects in Hazard Communication,” PSX 2020, (September 16, 2020). 

"International Affairs Council: Europe – South & Central America – Asia & Australia," HCPA IMPACT2020 Webinar Series, (June 4, 2020).

“WEBINAR -- Keeping up with FSMA – Rules, Obligations, and Key Compliance Dates,” Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., (October 17, 2018).

"South Korean and China Regulations and other Asian Market Regulations & Opportunities," Exporting Chemicals and Hazardous Materials: Major Global Markets Regulatory Compliance, Akron, Ohio (February 23, 2017).

“WEBINAR -- Current Opportunities and Challenges with Chemical Substance Regulation in Mexico and Central and South America,” The Acta Group Webinar (February 16, 2017).

"Understanding and Complying with HCS 2012," Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) Seminar and Webinar, Arlington, Virginia (November 9, 2015).

"Avoiding HCS Citations: OSHA Issues Useful 'How To' Guidance," B&C and 3E Company Webinar (April 2, 20215).

"NAFTA Members' GHS Programs: A Comparative Analysis," Bloomberg BNA Webinar (December 10, 2014).

"The Globally Harmonized System Of Classification & Labeling of Chemicals (GHS): Requirements, Challenges, and Opportunities," B&C and Gradient Webinar (November 20, 2014).