On September 24, 2025, we were delighted to welcome over 100 attendees from 15 countries to the Chemical Inspection & Regulation Service (CIRS) Global Chemical Regulations Conference. It was a day full of expert insights, lively discussions, and valuable networking, showcasing the global nature of the regulatory challenges and opportunities our industry faces.
From start to finish, the energy in the room was clear: delegates connected with colleagues old and new, explored fresh ideas, and left with practical updates to support their work.
Highlights from the Presentations
Opening remarks – Lucy Li, CEO of CIRS Group
Lucy opened the conference by warmly welcoming speakers, sponsors, partners, and attendees from around the world. She reflected on the growth of the London event, now in its third year, and reiterated CIRS Group’s mission to build a global platform for regulatory communication and collaboration. She spoke about the opening of a new Japan subsidiary under the strategy “Think globally, serve locally,” and thanked sponsors for their support, stressing that compliance is a shared global responsibility.
Latest Developments in EU Chemical Policy – Marko Susnik, Senior Advisor at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO)
Marko opened the day with a comprehensive update on EU chemical legislation. He highlighted the ongoing revision of REACH, the progress of PFAS restrictions, and new rules on microplastics. Updates to the CLP regulation, measures on F-gases, and the evolving “essential use” concept underscored how policy continues to tighten to protect both people and the environment.
UK Chemical Regulations Update – Dr. Kathryn Tearle, Regulatory Affairs Manager at the British Coating Federation (BCF) and Vice Chair of the Chemical Hazard Communication Society (CHCS)
Dr. Tearle provided a clear overview of the shifting UK regulatory landscape. She walked delegates through key updates to UK REACH, GB CLP, GB BPR, and GB PIC, with insights on transitional provisions, deadlines, and areas of divergence from the EU. Attendees gained practical guidance on navigating supply chain changes and compliance in a post-Brexit context.
Supply Chain Visibility – Anniken Buverud, Senior ESG Coordinator at ISN
Anniken emphasized the importance of supply chain mapping in the face of disruption. She highlighted evolving risks in the chemicals sector and how tools like Transparency-One can improve oversight, compliance, and resilience.
Global GHS Implementation – Ziannah Pasion, Regulatory Affairs Specialist at EPY
Ziannah unpacked the fragmented state of GHS implementation worldwide. She demonstrated how differences across regions impact businesses and trade, and introduced EPY X, a solution designed to simplify global GHS compliance.
Panel Discussion: Resilience & Innovation in the Chemical Sector
Moderated by Tom Bowtell (BCF), the panel explored how the industry can strike a balance between sustainability, innovation, and resilience. Key themes included the demand for a more skilled workforce, the need to cut energy costs, and the drive toward greater recyclability. Panelists also stressed that excessive or overlapping regulations risk stifling innovation, and urged for more “sensible”, practical frameworks. Gunther Van Kerckhove (Lead Manager, product safety and regulatory affairs at OCSiAl Group), Yana Trubitsyna (Regulatory Queen at REGARTIS), Ian Cranshaw (head of international trade and regions at Chemical Industries Association (CIA)), Marko Susnik (Senior Advisor at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO)) and moderator Tom Bowtell (Chief Executive Officer of the British Coatings Federation (BCF)).
Nanospecific Testing from a CRO Perspective – Dr. Ricki Rosenfeldt, CEO of nEcoTox
Dr. Rosenfeldt explained critical considerations for testing nanomaterials, including particle size distribution, dissolution rates, dispersion stability, and nanospecific analytics—essential knowledge as nanosafety requirements advance.
Towards Regulatory Transformation to Enable Animal-Free Safety Assessment – Jay Ingram, Managing Director of Chemicals at Humane World for Animals
Jay made a compelling case for accelerating the adoption of Non-Animal Methods (NAMs). He outlined AFSA’s global strategy, emerging guidance for regulators, and the role of Next Generation Risk Assessment in driving consistent, science-based animal-free safety assessments.
Ukrainian REACH: Pre-registration in Practice – Inessa Kiristaeva, Customer Happiness Manager at REGARTIS and team leader of REGARTIS Ukraine
Inessa shared real-world insights into Ukraine’s new REACH framework, which entered into force in January 2025. She detailed common challenges in preregistration, the pitfalls of “simplified” registration, and what enforcement may look like from 2026 onward.
Asia-Pacific Regulatory Landscape – Kyonga Park, General Manager of CIRS Japan
Kyonga provided an overview of evolving regulations across South Korea, China, and Japan. She covered practical issues such as registration hurdles, QR code labeling in China, and updates on chemical control laws in Japan, giving participants a regional perspective on compliance.
Enforcing Chemical Compliance in Türkiye – Özüm Özbek, Regulatory Affairs Consultant at CHEMLEG EUROPE B.V.
Özüm provided a detailed overview of Türkiye’s KKDİK regulation, with a focus on the January 2025 “Principles and Procedures” update. She explained how the new framework affects preregistration timelines, data sharing, and SIEF coordination. Key issues such as lead registrant roles, cost allocation, and the possibility of “temporary registration” were unpacked, giving attendees a practical roadmap for compliance.
Panel Discussion: Securing the Chemical Supply Chain – Resilience, Regulation, and Risk Management in a Changing World
Moderated by Tim Doggett (CBA), this panel examined how global disruptions and regulatory pressures are reshaping chemical supply chains. Key themes included crisis lessons, adapting to regulatory change, and the promise, and risks, of digital tools and AI. Panelists warned that protectionist policies, such as those emerging in the US, could stifle innovation, drawing historical parallels to pre-1980s China. By contrast, China’s decision to open up has since made it responsible for half of global chemical production. Jonathan Lutwyche (CEO of the Yordas Group), Liangyu Hawkes (Founder & Managing Director, Anstar Ltd), Alan Looney (Managing Director of NCC), Gerard McElwee (Partner at Squire Patton Boggs), and moderator Tim Doggett (Chief Executive Officer of the Chemical Business Association (CBA)).
A Day of Connection and Collaboration
Beyond the sessions, the conference was full of networking opportunities, from coffee breaks to the evening drinks reception. Attendees shared experiences, built new partnerships, and continued discussions sparked by the presentations. We were also pleased to capture our traditional group photo – a great reminder of the global community that came together [see top of article].
Thank You to Our Sponsors
This year’s event would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors: REGARTIS, EPY, CHEMLEG, Lisam, and Where to Buy Chemicals. We encourage you to visit their websites via our sponsor page, and we are happy to put you directly in touch with them if you’d like to learn more about their services.
Looking Ahead
The positive feedback on LinkedIn and in follow-up emails has been wonderful to see, and we’re grateful to all who contributed to making the event such a success.
If you’d like to be part of the conversation next year, we invite you to register your interest now for the 2026 Global Chemical Regulations Conference via conference@cirs-group.com. Attendees will also be receiving the presentations and other follow-up information from the same email address, so keep an eye on your inboxes!
We look forward to welcoming you (again) next year!
Ends
Contact Ellen Daliday
童乐琳 | Managing Editor
Chemical Inspection & Regulation Service Limited
Cell 07718173013
Email ellen.daliday@cirs-group.com
Address. CIRS, Regus Harcourt Centre, Dublin, Ireland, D02 HW77
Web www.cirs-group.com/en
