Overview
Darren enables clients throughout the chemicals and life sciences supply chain to get and keep their products on the European market (in the UK and the EU). He focuses on defence of products through strategic advice, advocacy before institutions and agencies, and litigation before EU and national courts and tribunals. He has a wealth of experience with the regulation of biocidal products, plant protection products (agrochemicals), REACH, classification, labelling and packaging, GM food and feed, cosmetics, and endocrine disruptors. Darren is recognized Europe-wide for his Environment and Agro/Food practice by Chambers Europe, who quotes clients’ praise for his work: "he is very knowledgeable and experienced in his field - a very good communicator who is responsive and strategically savvy". "When it comes to things like REACH and chemicals law, he is the best" and " provides the complete package of client attention and partnership" (2023).
Darren also has particular experience defending clients resisting requests for access to confidential business information. For instance, he successfully defended the European Chemicals Agency in a high-profile case concerning its refusal to grant public access to information disclosing the identity and specific commercial activities of companies engaged with a number of allegedly hazardous substances. He also successfully led industry interveners in the Glyphosate appeal before the Court of Justice of the EU on the same issues.
- Bar of England & Wales
- Brussels Bar
- LL.M., University College London, Environmental Law
- LL.B., University College London
Representative Matters
- Successfully defended the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) in case T-245/11 ClientEarth and International Chemical Secretariat v ECHA. The case was the most significant legal challenge to ECHA since its establishment in 2007 and concerned its refusal to grant public access to certain documents and information disclosing the identity and specific commercial activities of companies engaged with a number of allegedly hazardous substances.
- Represented CropLife International in the Glyphosate Appeal (Case C-673/13P) before the Court of Justice of the EU and coordinated all industry interveners. This is the most important case on the protection of confidential information in the environment area to date. The appeal successfully overturned the Glyphosate Judgment by the General Court.
- Defended Arysta LifeScience, before the Liège Commercial Court in Belgium, against a reimbursement claim made by a data accessor after data sharing negotiations had been completed. This is the first example of such litigation under the Biocidal Products Regulation.
- Represented the European Crop Protection Association before the General Court of the EU, as intervener in 3 cases in relation to restrictions on certain agrochemicals because of their alleged effects on bees, a high-profile issue: cases T-584/13 (BASF Agro and Others v Commission), T-451/13 (Syngenta Crop Protection and Others v Commission), and T-429/13 (Bayer CropScience v Commission).
- Darren has been counsel in all of the cases decided by ECHA's Board of Appeal on mandatory data sharing rules under REACH (A-005-2013, Vanadium Consortium; A-017-2013, Vanadium Consortium/Appeal) and in key cases on mandatory data sharing for biocides (A-001-2016 Troy Chemical Company B.V., and A-014-2016 Solvay Solutions UK Limited).
- Led the team who obtained a successful conclusion to a complaint before the European Ombudsman on behalf of EuropaBio and two other associations. Following a 16 month inquiry, the Ombudsman decided that European Commission delays in approval procedures for import and processing of GM food and feed constituted "systemic" maladministration.
Speaking Engagements
-
"Legal perspectives on divergence with case studies on CLP and biocides," Future Directions for UK Chemicals Regulation 2024, online, December 10, 2024
-
"UK REACH - ATRm Proposal," and Moderator, "Roles, goals, and priorities: the existing architecture in UK chemicals regulation," Chemical Reactions: UK Chemicals Conference, Manchester, September 24, 2024
- "Legal Update on Data Protection Issues," Biocides Symposium 2024, Prague, June 3-4, 2024
-
"EU/GB Divergence – The Gap is starting grow," ChemUK 2024, Birmingham, May 15-16, 2024
- "UK REACH: Regulatory Affairs & Stewardship speaker programme," UK annual Chemical, Laboratory & Process Industries Supply Chain Expo, May 15, 2024
- "UK REACH - Reflection to Date from a legal perspective," Chemicals Management – Navigating Success organized by CIA and REACHReady, online, April 25, 2024
- "Challenges in Data Protection under 1107/2009," Dublin Plant Protection Symposium 2023, November 21-22.
- "Data Sharing and Global Regulations," Chemical Regulations and Sustainability Symposium 2023, October 25-26, 2023
- "UK REACH: Legal Issues to Watch, "Chemikalienrecht außerhalb der EU webinar hosted by Lexxion, September 21-22, 2023
- "Biocides Developments"; "UK Chemicals Law," Steptoe EU Chemicals & Sustainability Conference, June 19, 2023
- "The latest developments and significant legal issues arising on ED assessments" at Biocides Europe 2022, November 30-December 1, 2022
-
"Chemicals Regulation in the UK – REACH, CLP and BPR", Die Akademie Fresenius GmbH Online Training, September 29, 2022
- "First tier tribunal remedies – a new route to challenge UK authorities", Chemical Watch Enforcement Summit 2022, September 28, 2022
- "Emerging Legal Issues", 5th Conference on Biocides conference hosted by Eurofins Biolab Srl, Milan June 22, 2022
- "Brexit: First Experiences – Tips, Tricks and Pitfalls", The Biocidal Products Regulation webinar hosted by Die Akademie Fresenius GmbH, June 21, 2022
- "UK Biocides Regulation", Chemical Watch Expo, Amsterdam, June 13, 2022
- "Biocides and the REACH Regulations in the UK", Eurofin webinar, May 16, 2022
- "Legal issues - before, during and after ED assessments", Biocides Symposium 2022 hosted by Chemical Watch, May 12, 2022
- "UK REACH: What's New in '22", CHEM UK 2022 conference hosted by UK Industry Events Ltd., May 11, 2022
- "Data Sharing Issues", UK Chemicals Regulations 2022 conference hosted by Chemical Watch, April 26, 2022
- "UK/EU REACH – current landscape and emerging issues", CIA and REACHReady webinar, April 7, 2022
- "The Biocidal Products Regulation", 21st International Akademie Fresenius Conference, March 31, 2022
- "Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability: Circularity in a Toxic-Free Environment" ERA (Academy of European Law) conference, January 19, 2022
- "UK REACH and GB BPR: Data Sharing, Disputes and Appeals," Chemical Watch webinar, December 8, 2021
- "Science-Based Approaches and the Precautionary Principle: EU Perspectives from Crop Protection," ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources & CropLife America Annual Event on New Developments in Pesticide Law and Policy, November 18, 2021
- "Chemical Regulation Post-Brexit EU v UK," Chem-Academy conference on Chemical regulation in non-EU, November 8, 2021
- "BPR Review: An update," Chemical Watch conference on Key Regulatory Updates: Europe, Asia and the Americas, October 12-14, 2021
- "UK REACH candidate list, authorisations list, authorisation applications and restrictions list/proposed restrictions," Chemical Watch conference on UK Chemicals Policy & Regulation, October 7, 2021
- Panellist on "UK REACH: Implementations and Implications," CHEMUK 2021 Conference, September 15-16, 2021
- Panellist on "The EU's Green Deal: Good Deal or Bad Deal for Food and Agriculture?" American Bar Association webinar, July 16, 2021
- Panellist on "The Precautionary Principle, Regulation and Agricultural Chemical Use," 25th ICABR Conference, June 29-July 2, 2021
- "GB Brexit: First Experiences - Tips, Tricks and Pitfalls," Die Akademie Fresenius Conference on The Biocidal Products Regulation, June 21-22, 2021
- "EFSA's New Transparency Regime," Steptoe & Johnson LLP webinar, May 26, 2021
- "Post-Brexit Biocides in GB – Legal Issues," Chemical Watch Biocides Symposium 2021, May 5, 2021
- "Data Sharing: Experiences, challenges and tips," CIA and REACHReady UK/EU REACH Current Landscape and Emerging Issues Webinar, April 27, 2021
- "Brexit & Biocides," American Chemistry Council Thirteenth Antimicrobial Workshop, April 14, 2021
- "Legal Issues," ChemSafe Srl, Eurofins Biopharma Product Testing Italy, and Steptoe & Johnson LLP’s EU BPR Task Force for QUATS Authorisations Webinar, March 24, 2021
- "Data protection and sharing under Regulation 528/2012 – summary and challenges," Dublin Biocides Symposium, March 23, 2021
- "Legal Cases Update," Croplife Sustainable Solutions to Protect Crops Webinar, March 11, 2021
- "Data protection and sharing under Regulation 1107/2009 – summary and challenges," Dublin Plant Protection Symposium 2020, December 1, 2020
-
"Science Based Approaches and the Precautionary Principle," ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources and CropLife America Annual Event: New Developments in Pesticide Law and Policy, November 18, 2020
- "The Biocidal Products Regulation," 19th International Akademie Fresenius Conference, Cologne, Germany, October 21-22, 2020
- "Brexit and the Chemicals Sector," Lexxion Webinar, October 8, 2020
- "Legal Issues and Cases Concerning Plant Protection Products," ECPA's 7th Annual Crop Protection Conference, Brussels, Belgium, March 5, 2020
- "Status Endocrine Disruptor Assessments for Biocides," Chemical Watch's Biocides Europe 2019, Vienna, Austria, December 3-4, 2019
- "Post Brexit Scenario," Eurofins 4th Annual Biocides Conference 2019, Milan, Italy, September 26-27, 2019
- "Brexit and Biocides - Practical Tips and Tricks: What Companies Need to Know," Chemical Watch's Biocides Symposium 2019, Rome, Italy, May 24, 2019
- "Legal Challenges for a Coherent EU Product Policy Under Circular Economy Requirements," Academy of European Law Annual Conference on European Environmental Law 2019, Trier, Germany, April 4, 2019
- "Brexit and Chemicals: Practical Steps for Compliance," European Association of Automotive Suppliers Materials Regulations Event, Stuttgart, Germany, March 29, 2019
- "Biocides and Transparency," Chemical Watch's Biocides Europe 2018, Vienna, Austria, November 27, 2018
- "Update on the EU's Biocidal Products Regulation: What is Happening and What to Watch," The American Chemistry Council's 12th Antimicrobial Workshop, June 8, 2018
- Annual Conference on EU Law in the Food Sector 2018, Academy of European Law, Brussels, Belgium, May 17, 2018
- "Increased Transparency Initiatives in Europe and Potential Impacts," New Developments in Pesticide Law and Policy, May 8, 2018
- "EU Endocrine Disruptor Criteria for Biocides & Plant Protection Products," Chemical Watch webinar, February 7, 2018
- "Biocides 2017," Chemical Watch's 20th Annual Conference, Vienna, Austria, December 6, 2017
- "EU Criteria to Identify Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals," Chemical Watch webinar, August 1, 2017
- "How to Build a Case for an Appeal under the BPR," Chemical Watch's 2017 Biocides Symposium, May 11, 2017
- "How to Build a Case for an Appeal under REACH," Chemical Watch Expo, Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2017
- "REACH into the Future," Chemical Watch Expo, Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2017
- "Data Sharing Principles, Lessons from the Board of Appeal: Focus on in situ dossiers and New Active Substances," TSGE Forum's 5th Annual European Regulatory Conference on Biocides, February 7, 2017
- "Brexit - What Next? Internal Market Uncertainty - Defensive Strategies," November 23, 2016
- "A Review of Recent Data Sharing Appeals on Biocides," Chemical Watch's 2016 Biocides Symposium, May 11, 2016
- "Enforcement of Environmental Law: New Tendencies in Access to Justice," Academy of European Law, March 17, 2016
- "A Practical Introduction to the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR)," November 24, 2015
- "The Biocidal Products Regulation: Emerging Issues," October 16, 2015
- "Contesting the Use of the Precautionary Principle: Hope over Experience?" August 24, 2015
- Co-Chair, Chemical Watch's 2015 Biocides Symposium, Ljubljana, Slovenia, May 11, 2015
News & Publications
Publications
The new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and its application in Northern Ireland
April 2, 2025
Publications
Environment & Climate Change Laws and Regulations 2025
International Comparative Legal Guides
March 2025
Client Alerts
Regulatory Landscape in the EU and the UK: Key Considerations for 2025
January 16, 2025
By: Darren Abrahams, Renato Antonini, Ruxandra Cana, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Leigh Mallon, Alexandra Melia, Eva Monard, Eléonore Mullier, Zoe Osborne, Ronan Scanlan, Guy Soussan, Charles Whiddington, Elisabethann Wright, Byron Maniatis, Yongqing Bao, Tom Gillett, Elli Zachari, Algirdas Semeta, Maria Salomé Bustos Mesa
Martina Scassini
Media Mentions
ENDS Report and Chemical Watch Quote Darren Abrahams and Tom Gillett on UK REACH
June 3, 2024
Publications
Environment & Climate Change Laws and Regulations 2024
International Comparative Legal Guides
March 2024
Client Alerts
Chemicals Regulation: Key Considerations in the EU and the UK in 2024
January 22, 2024
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, Charles Whiddington, Yumiko Takahashi, Zanda Romata, Darren Abrahams, Tom Gillett, Jonathon Egerton-Peters, Michael Lee
Resources
Biocides News & Briefs
Endocrine Disruptors: Confronting the New Criteria
November 15, 2017
Biocides News & Briefs
Harmonising the Process for Biocidal Products Authorisations
May 30, 2017
By: Darren Abrahams
Biocides News & Briefs
Adoption of Endocrine Disruptor Criteria: Plain Sailing Ahead?
ChemicalWatch
August 31, 2016
By: Darren Abrahams
Biocides News & Briefs
Biocides and the Board of Appeal: A First Assessment
ChemicalWatch
April 9, 2016
By: Darren Abrahams
Biocides News & Briefs
Masterbatches Under the BPR: A Riddle Resolved?
ChemicalWatch
January 8, 2016
By: Darren Abrahams
Events
Seminars & Events
Chemical Reactions: UK Chemicals Conference
September 24, 2024
Speakers: Darren Abrahams, Tom Gillett, Zanda Romata
Webinars
Part Two - REACH Improvement Proposals on Restrictions, Agency Reporting, Animal Testing and More
June 11, 2024
Speakers: Darren Abrahams, Tom Gillett
Seminars & Events
EU Chemicals and Sustainability Conference
June 19, 2023
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier, Darren Abrahams, Zanda Romata, Tom Gillett, Joan Baughan, Robert L. Shuftan
Webinars
Staying Ahead of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
April 20, 2023
Speaker: Darren Abrahams
Webinars
May 26, 2021
Speakers: Darren Abrahams, Federica Bruno (DG SANTE, Legal Officer, Pesticides & Biocides Unit, European Commission), Alessio Ghiani (IP & Legal Affairs Manager, CropLife Europe), Maryse Hervé (Secretary General, EU Specialty Food Ingredients)
Seminars & Events
Brexit and the Chemical Sector
March 3, 2020
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Darren Abrahams, Yongqing Bao
Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel and Conference Center
Hugo-Eckner-Ring 15
Frankfurt, Germany
Seminars & Events
Biocides: What Does the Future Hold?
November 13, 2019
Speakers: Darren Abrahams, Eléonore Mullier
InterContinental Frankfurt
Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße 43
Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Seminars & Events
Brexit and the Chemical Sector
March 19, 2019
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Darren Abrahams
Fleming's Selection Hotel Frankfurt-City
Eschenheimer Tor 2, 60318
Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Noteworthy
- Best Lawyers in Belgium, Regulatory Practice (2017-2020)
- Chambers Europe, Regulatory: Environment, Europe-wide (2017-2025)
- Chambers Europe, Regulatory: Agro/Food, Europe-wide (2017-2025)
- Chambers Europe, Regulatory: Environment, Belgium (2009-2016)
- Legal 500 EMEA, EU Regulatory: Chemicals, REACH (2013-2019)
- Legal 500 EMEA, EU Regulatory: Food (2012-2017)
- Legal 500 EMEA, EU Regulatory: Environment (including WEE and RoHS) (2008-2013, 2016)
- Who's Who Legal, Environment (2010-2017)
- LMG Life Sciences, "Life Sciences Star," Belgium and European Union (2015)
- LMG Life Sciences, "Life Sciences Star" (2014)
Professional Affiliations
- American Chamber of Commerce to the EU
- Bar European Group
- UK Environmental Law Association