All Things Chemical® Podcast | Bergeson & Campbell

March 16, 2023

What is Product Stewardship’s Value to a Company? — A Conversation with Tina N. Armstrong, Ph.D.

This week, I sat down with Dr. Tina N. Armstrong, a Vice President with Arcadis U.S., Inc., to discuss the role of product stewardship in business organizations today. To those of us in this space, Tina is a rock star. In addition to her role as a business leader and scientist at Arcadis, Tina is a professor in product stewardship strategy and management at the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, an author of many books and articles on product stewardship, and the 2022 awardee of the prestigious Allan K. Fleeger Distinguished Service Award conferred by the ... read more >

March 2, 2023

Product Stewardship, Supply Chain, and Downstream User Engagement — A Conversation with Catherine M. Croke, DBA

This week, I had the pleasure of catching up with Dr. Catherine M. Croke, B&C’s and our consulting affiliate’s, The Acta Group, new Director of Product Stewardship and Regulatory Affairs. Catherine joined us recently from Evonik Corporation, where she was Senior Advocacy and Compliance Manager. Catherine’s diverse and truly extraordinary background working for industrial chemical companies in a variety of science, business, and advocacy roles have made Catherine a core part of the B&C and Acta team. We discuss the expanding role and growing importance of product ... read more >

February 16, 2023

Health Canada’s Update to Rev 7/8 of GHS — A Conversation with Karin F. Baron

This week, I welcomed back to the studio Karin F. Baron, Director of Hazard Communication and International Registration Strategy at B&C and our consulting affiliate, The Acta Group. During this 100th All Things Chemical podcast, Karin and I discuss the very important recently released amendments to the Canadian Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR). The amendments are intended to align the HPR with the seventh revised edition (Rev 7) of the United Nations (UN) Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). No one on planet Earth knows the global state ... read more >

February 2, 2023

What to Expect on Capitol Hill and at EPA OCSPP in 2023 — A Conversation with Jim Aidala

This week, I sat down with Jim Aidala, Senior Government Affairs Consultant at B&C and its consulting affiliate, The Acta Group. We discuss what to expect in 2023 from Capitol Hill and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) when it comes to key chemical matters. Jim is, of course, one of the country’s most talented pesticide experts and, as a former Assistant Administrator of what is now OCSPP and a founding member of the Capitol Steps, offers laser-focused insights on chemicals with wit and flair. We cover a ... read more >

January 19, 2023

What to Expect in Chemicals Policy and Regulation in 2023 — A Conversation with Richard E. Engler, Ph.D.

Download transcript. This week, Dr. Richard E. Engler, Director of Chemistry for B&C and The Acta Group (Acta®), our consulting affiliate, returned to the studio to discuss what to expect in Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulation in the New Year. While we cannot predict with precision, we know 2023 will be a consequential year for several reasons: the first final risk management rule will be issued, the final per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) reporting rule will be issued, and the final Confidential Business Information rule will be issued -- and this is the ... read more >

January 5, 2023

EPA Adds Two New Chemical Categories: What It Means to Chemical Innovators — A Conversation with Richard E. Engler, Ph.D.

Download Transcript This week, Dr. Richard E. Engler, Director of Chemistry for B&C and The Acta Group, our consulting affiliate, returned to the studio to discuss the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) bold moves in developing new chemical categories to help streamline the review of new chemicals under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 5. While the categorical approach to new chemical review is by no means new, it has stalled out in recent years, and EPA’s renewed work in this area is both timely and essential. Rich and I discuss the new category for ... read more >

December 8, 2022

TSCA Regulation of Articles: The Saga Continues — A Conversation with Richard E. Engler, Ph.D.

Download transcript. This week, Dr. Richard E. Engler, Director of Chemistry for B&C and The Acta Group, our consulting affiliate, returned to the studio to discuss the stubbornly vexatious problem of TSCA’s regulation of articles, a fancy name for products or finished goods. Most listeners to the podcast appreciate that this U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administration has specifically applied TSCA regulations to articles far more than in decades past. This policy pivot has caused a significant amount of commercial disruption and business uncertainty. This will ... read more >

November 10, 2022

Keeping up with CLP Changes — A Conversation with Karin F. Baron

Download transcript. This week, I welcomed back to the studio Karin F. Baron, Senior Regulatory Consultant at B&C and our consulting affiliate, The Acta Group. Karin and I discuss the controversial changes proposed by the European Commission to the regulation on classification, labeling, and packaging of substances and mixtures, better known as the CLP regulation. As our listeners know, no one knows this space better than Karin Baron. Karin explains why the proposed changes are likely to inject even greater dis-harmonization in the area of the global harmonization of packaging and ... read more >

October 27, 2022

Biotech’s Emergence in the EU and Globally — A Conversation with Dr. Claire Skentelbery

Download transcript. This week, I sat down with Dr. Claire Skentelbery, Director General, EuropaBio -- The European Association for Bioindustries. Many of you may know Claire from her prior role as Director General of the Nanotechnology Industries Association, where she energized that Brussels-based trade association to new and exciting heights. Claire has brought her considerable scientific, science policy, and trade association management skills to EuropaBio at an exciting time, as biotechnology is widely recognized to be a pivotal component of the European Union’s (EU) ... read more >

October 13, 2022

Misunderstood: The Excise Tax No One Likes or Understands — A Conversation with Douglas Charnas and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D.

Download transcript. This week I sat down with Doug Charnas, a nationally- recognized corporate and tax attorney and partner at McGlinchey, in its Washington, D.C. offices, and our own Dr. Richard Engler, Director of Chemistry at Bergeson & Campbell and at our consulting affiliate, The Acta Group. We discuss the recently reinstated Superfund Tax, which entities the tax applies to, what exactly is a taxable chemical and how to distinguish between taxable chemicals and taxable substances, and why just about everyone is really grumpy about this newly reinstated tax. ALL MATERIALS ... read more >

September 29, 2022

The New Era of Smarter Food Safety — A Conversation with Karin Baron

Download transcript. This week, I welcomed back to the studio Karin F. Baron, Senior Regulatory Consultant at B&C and our consulting affiliate, The Acta Group. Karin and I discuss the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) initiative called the New Era of Smarter Food Safety. The goal of this initiative is to diminish the number of foodborne illness, which, surprisingly, has not diminished since the Food Safety Modernization Act was enacted 11 years ago. We discuss FDA’s “blueprint for the future” as the initiative has come to be called, the use of ... read more >

September 15, 2022

TSCA New Approach Methodologies — A Conversation with James W. Cox

Download transcript. This week I sat down with James Cox, M.S., Senior Scientist with B&C. James is an exceptional biologist with significant experience assessing the risk of industrial chemicals. Before joining B&C, James served in a variety of leadership positions in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevent and Toxics, one of which was Chair of the Risk Assessment Technical Team, which provided recommendations to inform EPA’s policy positions on New Approach Methodologies or NAMs. James discusses NAMs, their significance in ... read more >

September 1, 2022

Do We Need An Animal Protection Agency? — A Conversation with Prof. Delcianna J. Winders

Download transcript. This week I sat down with Professor Delcianna J. Winders, Professor and Animal Law and Policy Institute Director at the Vermont Law School. Professor Winders is a total rock star in the exploding area of animal law. Prior to joining the Vermont Law School faculty and founding the Animal Law and Policy Institute, Professor Winders was on the faculty of Lewis & Clark Law School. She previously served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation, was the first Academic Fellow of the Harvard Animal Law ... read more >

August 18, 2022

Is There A New Chemical Bias? — A Conversation with Richard E. Engler, Ph.D.

Download transcript. This week I sat down with Dr. Richard E. Engler, B&C’s and The Acta Group’s (our consulting affiliate) Director of Chemistry, to discuss the new chemical bias. Our listeners know that Rich Engler has worked for decades reviewing Premanufacture Notifications submitted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). PMNs are applications to manufacture or import chemical substances that are not listed on the TSCA Inventory and thus are considered “new.” Much has changed in terms of the new chemical review process since Congress revised TSCA ... read more >

August 4, 2022

The National Tribal Toxics Council — A Conversation with Dianne Barton, Ph.D.

Download transcript. This week, I sat down with Dr. Dianne Barton, Water Quality Coordinator at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission in Portland, Oregon, where she puts her Ph.D. in geochemistry to good use by providing technical expertise related to water quality, environmental toxics, regulatory processes, and the fate and transport of contaminants. Dr. Barton, who is a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Chairs the National Tribal Toxics Council (NTTC), which is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - tribal partnership group that provides tribes ... read more >

July 21, 2022

Tips for Working with Foreign Regulators in China — A Conversation with David Cragin, Ph.D.

Download transcript. This week, I sat down with David Cragin, Ph.D., DABT®, Quality Assurance and External Affairs Director for a large multinational pharmaceutical company, to discuss his experience living and working in China. For many listeners, working with foreign regulators can be particularly challenging for a variety of reasons, including language barriers, cultural differences, and differing regulatory standards. Dave shares his experience working in China and explains his approach to managing these issues successfully. ALL MATERIALS IN THIS PODCAST ARE PROVIDED SOLELY FOR ... read more >

July 7, 2022

Food Pesticide Residues — A Conversation with Sheryl Dolan and Meibao Zhuang, Ph.D.

Download transcript This week, I sat down with Sheryl Lindros Dolan, Senior Regulatory Consultant with B&C and Senior Regulatory Specialist with our consulting affiliate, The Acta Group, and Meibao Zhuang, Ph.D., Senior Scientist/Regulatory Consultant with B&C and Acta, to discuss pesticide tolerances, what are they, how does the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develop them, and how well government and industry stakeholders communicate their utility in ensuring a safe and reliable food supply. We also wander into the complex world of soil amendments and ... read more >

June 23, 2022

Balancing Wildlife Protection and Responsible Pesticide Use — A Conversation with EPA’s Jake Li

Download transcript. This week, I sat down with Jake Li, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pesticide Programs, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and my colleague, Jim Aidala, Senior Government Affairs Consultant here at B&C. My guests have much in common -- they both have served (or in Jake’s case is serving) in senior policy positions in this space at EPA, and they both have a keen understanding of the legal, policy, and commercial implications of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Enacted almost 50 years ago, ... read more >

June 10, 2022

OEHHA and Prop 65 Update — A Conversation with Lisa R. Burchi

Download transcript This week, I sat down with Lisa R. Burchi, Of Counsel, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., and resident expert on Proposition 65 (Prop 65), among many other chemical laws. Few state laws are more notorious, or controversial, as this 1986 California law that revolutionized the concept of a consumer’s or worker’s “right to know” whether a product or work space might present exposures to chemicals considered carcinogens or reproductive toxins. Fast forward 36 years, and the familiar label warning on products as diverse as industrial chemicals to ... read more >

May 26, 2022

GHS Update — A Conversation with Karin Baron

Download transcript. This week, I welcomed back to the studio Karin F. Baron, Senior Regulatory Consultant at B&C and our consulting affiliate, The Acta Group. Karin is an internationally recognized expert on hazard communication, risk assessment, the regulation of food contact materials, and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Karin’s expertise in hazard communication and GHS was recently recognized as Karin was elected to the Board of Directors of the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC), an organization Karin has ... read more >

May 12, 2022

Trends in Product Sustainability and Circularity — A Conversation with Kate Sellers

Download transcript This week I had the pleasure of sitting down again with one of my favorite people on planet Earth, Kate Sellers, Technical Fellow at ERM, where Kate leads a multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to helping companies recognize the business value of product stewardship. Kate is also an adjunct professor at Harvard Extension School and Indiana University’s School of Public Health, where she is an instructor in the Master of Science in Product Stewardship program. Kate and I last spoke on the podcast in December 2020, when we vowed to speak again in ... read more >

April 28, 2022

A Look Into The Household & Commercial Products Association — A Conversation with Steven Bennett, Ph.D.

Download transcript. This week, I sat down with Dr. Steven Bennett, Executive Vice President, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Household & Commercial Products Association, here in Washington, D.C. Steve’s membership represents an amazing diversity of products used to clean and disinfect homes and commercial environments. As Executive Vice President of scientific and regulatory affairs, Steve routinely addresses an equally diverse and challenging range of scientific, regulatory, and science policy issues, from consumer exposures, to chemicals used in cleaning products, to ... read more >

April 14, 2022

FIFRA Hot Topics — A Conversation with Jim Aidala

Download transcript This week, I sat down with Jim Aidala, Senior Government Affairs Consultant at B&C and its consulting affiliate, The Acta Group. As a former Assistant Administrator in what is now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Jim has a truly unique and exceedingly focused perspective on EPA and Congressional initiatives involving the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Unsurprisingly, the new (or not so new now) Administration has taken positions on key FIFRA issues that are ... read more >

March 31, 2022

Reflections on TSCA Implementation — A Conversation with Alexandra Dunn

Download transcript This week, I was delighted to visit again with Alexandra Dunn, now a Partner with Baker Botts and immediate past Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). As Assistant Administrator, Alex was respected and liked by a diversity of industrial and agricultural chemical stakeholders, revered by her immediate staff, and hugely popular as an EPA senior leader. Alex led OCSPP at a pivotal time in EPA’s implementation of revisions to the Toxic Substances Control Act ... read more >

March 3, 2022

The “PIPing” Point — A Conversation with Kelly Scanlon, DrPH, Director of EHS at IPC

Download transcript. Dr. Scanlon's audio quality was affected during parts of this interview due to technical issues. We apologize for the inconvenience. This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kelly Scanlon, DrPH, CIH, Director of Environmental Policy & Research, Global Government Relations, at IPC. IPC, as many of you know, is an organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute as a standards development organization. It publishes the most widely used acceptability standards for the electronic industry. Dr. Scanlon was brought on at IPC in 2019 ... read more >

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