Food Safety & Life Sciences

Steptoe's multidisciplinary food and life sciences team, based in Beijing, Brussels, and Washington works with clients to develop innovative compliance strategies for individual products and product lines. We advise clients on consumer protection legislation, risk management issues, and the regulatory aspects of the product development and marketing programs in the US, EU, and China. We have represented clients in this area for more than 25 years, and over that time our practitioners have gained a reputation for constructive engagement with the relevant industry bodies and regulators across the globe, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety at the European Commission (EC), EU Member State authorities, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and China Food and Drug Administration.

We advise with regulatory compliance in:

Noteworthy

Chambers Europe, Band 1, Regulatory: Environment, Europe-wide (2014-2025)
Chambers Europe, Band 1, Regulatory: Agro/Food, Europe-wide (2017-2025)
Legal 500 EMEA, EU Regulatory: Chemicals, Belgium (2013-2019)
Legal 500 EMEA, EU Regulatory: Food, Belgium (2012-2019)
Legal 500 EMEA, Tier 1, EU Regulatory: Environment, Belgium (2013-2016)

Professionals

Darren Abrahams

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...

Partner

Chemicals & Environment, Food Safety & Life Sciences, Government & Regulatory Litigation, Chemicals

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Anthony J. Anscombe

Anthony Anscombe is the chair of Steptoe's Consumer Litigation group. As group leader, he supports his colleagues at all levels of experience to find success practicing law the way they want to...

Partner

Class Action Defense, Food Safety & Life Sciences, Retail & E-Commerce, Food and Feed Safety, Compliance, and Contact Materials

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Joan Baughan

Joan Baughan, chair of Steptoe’s Chemical, Environmental and Life Sciences practice group, practices food and drug law, focusing on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and comparable international...

Partner

Food Safety & Life Sciences, Food and Feed Safety, Compliance, and Contact Materials, Life Sciences, Consumer Law and Litigation

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 6417

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Michael Boucher

Michael Boucher is a partner in the Chemical, Environmental and Life Sciences practice. His practice focuses on federal and state regulation of chemical and pest control products, including household...

Partner

Chemicals & Environment, Chemicals, Consumer Products Regulations, Environmental Impacts & Permitting

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 8020

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Ruxandra Cana

Ruxandra advises and defends clients in matters related to EU regulatory law and litigation with a strong emphasis on product, environmental and sustainability regulations, and increasingly, climate...

Partner

Chemicals & Environment, Food Safety & Life Sciences, Government & Regulatory Litigation, Nanotechnology

Brussels
+32 2 626 0571

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Kimberly Cassidy, Ph.D.

Dr. Kimberly Cassidy is one of Steptoe’s in-house scientists, bringing over 23 years of professional experience. Kim offers comprehensive advice on a wide range of subjects, with a particular emphasis...

Specialist

Food Safety & Life Sciences, Food Contact & Food Regulation, Food Contact Materials, Chemicals

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 1364

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Jessica Cooper, Ph.D.

Dr. Jessica Cooper is one of Steptoe's distinguished in-house scientists, where she advises clients on a wide range of chemical and scientific topics, with a focus on food contact substances, food...

Chemistry Specialist

Food Safety & Life Sciences, Chemicals, Nanotechnology, Food and Feed Safety, Compliance, and Contact Materials

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 8139

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Joseph Dages

Joe is a lawyer serving companies in the food-contact material, chemical, food, dietary supplement, cosmetic, and drug industries. He counsels these companies on compliance with the pervasive...

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Food Safety & Life Sciences, Food and Feed Safety, Compliance, and Contact Materials, Life Sciences, Chemicals & Environment

Washington, DC
+1 202 429 6263

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Audrey (Ying) Huang

Ying Huang is the managing partner of Steptoe's Beijing office. She joined Steptoe in 2003 and spent eight years at the firm's headquarters in Washington, DC. Since Steptoe established its Beijing...

Partner

World Bank/IFI Investigations, Export Controls, Economic Sanctions, Government Affairs & Public Policy

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Patricia Kinne

Patricia Kinne brings more than 20 years of professional experience in managing and leading food contact compliance, chemical registration, and maintaining regulatory compliance. Patricia has a...

Specialist

Food Safety & Life Sciences, Chemicals & Environment, Food and Feed Safety, Compliance, and Contact Materials, Chemicals