Overview
Ruxandra defends industry interests through legal and regulatory challenges to EU market access, before both EU and national institutions and courts. Her practice is focused on EU regulatory law and litigation with a strong emphasis on chemicals and product regulations, such as REACH. She has notable experience and success with related matters concerning emerging issues such as nanotechnology. Chambers Europe notes that Ruxandra is recognized by clients and peers as a "leading expert in EU chemicals regulation," and Chambers client commentary states that she is viewed as "the most experienced lawyer in REACH, particularly when it comes to appealing regulatory decisions," and that she has the ability to "put things in perspective and is easygoing."
Ruxandra is a litigator well-known for her groundbreaking cases before the Court of Justice of the EU, as well as for her successful representation of clients in numerous appeals before the European Chemicals Agency's Board of Appeal (BoA). Many of the cases that Ruxandra handles have never before been argued: she develops new remedies and solutions to earn favorable outcomes for clients. For instance, she acted as counsel in the first successful direct action related to EU chemicals legislation before the EU General Court. She was also counsel in the only successful nano-related substance and dossier evaluation cases under REACH brought before the BoA, defending industry-wide interests. Ruxandra’s success for clients stems from her dedication to learn their business and be a trusted and pragmatic advisor.
She has formed and continues to act as a trusted advisor to more than 30 industry groups. She further brings significant experience in EU rules on biocides and pesticides, cosmetics, medical devices, consumer products, food, and food contact materials.
- Brussels Bar (E list)
- Bucharest Bar
- LL.M., College of Europe, 1999, European Law
- J.D., University of Bucharest, 1998
- DEUG, Université Paris II Panthéon Sorbonne, 1998
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
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Successfully represented 35 chemicals companies in the synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) appeal (A-015-2015) before the BoA of ECHA, a precedent-setting nano case and the largest appeal yet decided by the BoA.
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Also nano-related, obtained the precedent-setting, successful annulment of the first ECHA decision on nanoforms (for the substance titanium dioxide). In an appeal before the BoA of ECHA (A-011-2014), Ruxandra represented 11 titanium dioxide producers, including Huntsman, Evonik and Chemours, earning the annulment of a compliance check decision by ECHA. The matter involved titanium dioxide substance identification under the dossier evaluation scheme of REACH. Also led the precedent-setting annulment of four nano-related compliance check decisions for Evonik, Rhodia, Iqesil and J.M. Huber (A-008 to A-011-2015).
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Won ten other appeals before the BoA of ECHA and obtained three positive decisions before the BoA of ECHA within 30 days of filing of the appeals, due to the strength of the arguments.
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Leading the application on behalf of PlasticsEurope, a major trade association representing the European plastics industry, to the General Court in cases T-185/17 and T-636/17 for the annulment of ECHA’s decisions to include Bisphenol A (BPA) in the Candidate List under the REACH Regulation.
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Represented the Applicants in the first successful direct action related to EU chemicals legislation to succeed before the EU General Court (case T-456/11).
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Obtained, on behalf of the European Federation of Cosmetic Ingredients, a significant success before the High Court in London and thereafter before the Court of Justice of the EU. The judgment brought much-needed clarity on how cosmetic companies and their suppliers can comply with EU legislation, also considering their non-EU obligations.
Speaking Engagements
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“PFAS in the EU and in the UK," Smithers Plastics & Paper in Contact with Foodstuffs, December 12, 2023
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Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability Update, Chemwatch Regulatory Summit Americas 2023
- "Moderator, "Session I—EU Chemicals Developments"; "CSS, REACH Revision & PFAS"; "Impact of Existing and Proposed Eco-Design Rules", Steptoe EU Chemicals & Sustainability Conference, June 19, 2023
- "Going Green in the EU - What is the Impact of the EU Sustainability Agenda and the EU CSS on Food Contact Materials?," Steptoe Food Contact Conference, April 26, 2023
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"Global Compliance Strategy and Advocacy: Regulatory Developments Regarding PFAS, Antimicrobials, Sustainability Parameters and Green Claims," IMPACT2023, HCPA Mid-Year Meeting, May 4, 2023
- "RoHS and REACH Issues at the Borderline", Chemicals Management for Electronics in Europe 2022 webinar, July 11, 2022
- "The Debate Over the Push to Make Chemcials Sustainable", Politico's Working Group, Brussels, June 21, 2022
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"An Update of REACH Substance Evaluation Court Decisions," Chemical Watch webinar, November 15, 2019
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Panel Chair, "Enforcement Elsewhere in the World," Chemical Watch 6th Annual Enforcement Summit, Brussels, Belgium, September 24-25, 2018
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"REACH 2018: The Last Mile of Data Sharing Negotiations," Chemical Watch webinar, March 28, 2018
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"EU Criteria to Identify Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals," Chemical Watch webinar, August 1, 2017
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"How to Build a Case for an Appeal Under the BPR," Chemical Watch 2017 Biocides Symposium, May 11, 2017
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"How to Build a Case for an Appeal under REACH," Chemical Watch Expo, Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2017
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"REACH into the Future," Chemical Watch Expo, Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2017
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"Endocrine Disruptors: Developments in EU Law," GlobalChem, Baltimore, MD, March 3, 2015
News & Publications
Client Alerts
Chemicals Regulation: Key Considerations in the EU and the UK in 2024
January 22, 2024
Client Alerts
ESG and Sustainability: Key Considerations in the EU and the UK in 2024
January 22, 2024
By: Ruxandra Cana, Eva Monard, Eléonore Mullier, Alexandra Melia, Zoe Osborne, Byron Maniatis
Client Alerts
Regulatory Landscape in the EU and the UK: Key Considerations in 2024
January 22, 2024
By: Renato Antonini, Eva Monard, Byron Maniatis, Yongqing Bao, Elli Zachari, Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier, Alexandra Melia, Zoe Osborne, Guy Soussan, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Maria Avramidou, Charles Whiddington, Yumiko Takahashi, Zanda Romata, Darren Abrahams, Tom Gillett, Roman Spangenberg, Jonathon Egerton-Peters, Michael Lee
Client Alerts
European Commission Releases "One Substance, One Assessment" Chemicals Legislation Package
December 7, 2023
Media Mentions
Chemical Watch Quotes Ruxandra Cana and Eléonore Mullier in EU PFAS Restriction Article
October 9, 2023
Client Alerts
September 5, 2023
Press Releases
April 13, 2023
Client Alerts
EU Proposes Critical Raw Materials Act and Net Zero Industry Act
March 23, 2023
By: Renato Antonini, Ruxandra Cana, Eva Monard, Eléonore Mullier, Zanda Romata, Byron Maniatis, Elli Zachari
Resources
Events
Seminars & Events
Advertising and Consumer Protection Legal Forum
May 9, 2024
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Eric Berman, Daniel Blynn, Ruxandra Cana, Tod Cohen, Christopher R. Fredrich, Surya Kundu, Joseph McClure, Stephen J. Newman, Jeff Potts, Jennifer Quinn-Barabanov, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Julia B. Strickland, Emily Tifft
Seminars & Events
Complimentary Food Contact Conference
April 23, 2024 - April 24, 2024
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Joseph Dages, Carly Rolph, Kimberly Cassidy, Ph.D., Jessica Cooper, Ph.D., Patricia Kinne, Tom Gillett, Ruxandra Cana, Daniel Blynn, Anthony G. Hopp, Surya Kundu, Caleb Holland, Dr. Yan Gu
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Paul Honigfort, Dr. Zhu Lei
Webinars
Staying Ahead of CSS Webinar Series: EU Recycled Food-Contact Plastics Regulation - Lessons Learned
January 23, 2024
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Ruxandra Cana
Seminars & Events
Fifth Annual Regulatory Symposium
November 30, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Tod Cohen, Micah S. Green, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Pantelis Michalopoulos, Michael L. Weiner
Webinars
Staying Ahead of CSS Webinar Series: New Packaging and Packaging Waste Rules in the EU
November 15, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier
Webinars
Global Impacts of the EU PFAS Restrictions
October 12, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier
Webinars
Staying Ahead of CSS Webinar Series: Where Do We Stand?
October 4, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier
Seminars & Events
EU Chemicals and Sustainability Conference
June 19, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier, Darren Abrahams, Zanda Romata, Tom Gillett, Roman Spangenberg, Joan Baughan, Robert L. Shuftan
Seminars & Events
Complimentary Food Contact Conference
April 25, 2023 - April 26, 2023
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Joseph Dages, Carly Rolph, Kimberly Cassidy, Ph.D., Jessica Cooper, Ph.D., Patricia Kinne, Glen Rosini, Tom Gillett, Anthony G. Hopp, Ruxandra Cana, Coy Garrison, Abigail Miller, Regulatory Review Chemist, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Sean Fischer, Consumer Safety Officer, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Daniel Felton, Executive Director, AMERIPEN
Webinars
Staying Ahead of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
March 14, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier
Noteworthy
- Legal 500 EMEA, Leading Individual, EU Regulatory: Chemicals and Environment (2018-2024)
- Chambers Europe, Environment: Regulatory, Europe, Band 1 (2017-2024)
- Who's Who Legal, Environment (2010-2022)
- Best Lawyers in Belgium, Environmental Law (2016-2020)
- Best Lawyers in Belgium, Regulatory Practice (2014-2020)
- Women in Business Law, Nominated as a leading Environment practitioner (2015-2020)
- Client Choice Award 2017, Belgium, Environment & Climate Change (2017)
- Law360 "Rising Star," Environment (2015)
- Legal 500 EMEA, EU Regulatory: Food, Belgium (2015)
- LMG Life Sciences, "Life Sciences Star," Belgium (2014, 2015)