Product Stewardship

Legislators around the world are increasingly taking a product-centred approach to environmental protection, imposing obligations on manufacturers, distributors, importers, users and disposers to reduce the environmental impacts of products, from the sourcing of raw materials to the management at their end-of life stage. Members of our International Environment, Climate and Regulatory Law Group are well-placed to advise on all aspects of this cycle.

Our product liability practice provides strategic advice and practical assistance to all operators in the supply chain, covering a wide range of products, including industrial equipment, automotives, medical devices, electronic equipment and other consumer goods.

We are involved at all stages of the production and marketing chain, from regulatory compliance at the strategic planning stage, to product labelling issues (including CE marking) and product liability risk assessments. We also assist clients with the regulatory impact of product misuse and product health and safety issues such as exposure to asbestos or other hazardous content.

We support clients on the practical impacts of regulatory enforcement action, including product investigations, recall, litigation, toxic torts and the associated reputational issues.

We have established global product teams dealing specifically with producer responsibility and product liability issues, who help our clients ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and managing product risks - enabling them to do business across the globe.

We also focus on trade and export controls enabling our clients to understand and comply with the complex challenges of operating within the ever expanding international trade sanctions.

Topics on which we routinely advise include:

• product safety and recall
• managing supply chains, sales channels, logistics and customer disputes
• RoHS and WEEE directives, including the chemical content of products
• China RoHS
• Batteries Directive
• U.S. and European sanctions, exemptions and approvals
• dual-use product restrictions
• medical devices
• U.S. conflict minerals legislation
• scoping and implementing due diligence on supply chains
• drafting and negotiating product supply terms and associated compliance certifications and warranties
• U.S. rules on e-waste and substance restrictions
• EMC requirements
• EuP Directive and implementing measures
• waste shipment regulations
• carriage of dangerous goods and substances
• packaging requirements
• developing compliance plans and strategies
• carrying out product registrations and certifications
• market surveillance initiatives
• product liability