Product Regulatory & Liability Developments: 2024 Roundup

Webinar Overview

Though change has been all-encompassing and swift in recent years in the world of product regulation, safety and liability, 2024 has been a particularly impactful year across the world. In the EU, for example, many legislative proposals have come to fruition after years in progress.

In particular, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulations, Right to Repair Directive and the Product Liability Directive are foundational pieces of legislation now finalised that are set to change the regulation and litigation landscape. Other measures will shortly apply or become law – such as the General Product Safety Regulation (aimed at future proofing regulations in the area) and the Products with Forced Labour Regulation.

These developments are extensive and have significant repercussions for companies in the space of manufacturing, importing or distributing products. Noteworthy is that a number of recent measures may be regarded as sector agnostic, applicable to a broad range of products from electronics, apparel, cosmetics to industrial and life sciences products.

Not only is there the challenge of keeping on top of these new regulations are they enter into force and apply but the landscape of product liability has now become a more exposed one for economic operators, including due to the recent Directives on Collective Redress, Product Liability and other litigation trends.

In our webinar we will recap on key regulatory and litigation developments in 2024 as well as glance ahead into 2025. In particular we will discuss and contextualise what these developments will ultimately mean for those in the product supply chain affected especially against the backdrop of a more claimant friendly landscape and regulators more armed to enforce.

We will also provide practical tips, based on our daily experience, to assist navigate these changing times, along with how Compliance & Risks’ enterprise software, C2P,  helps you stay on the regulatory pulse.

Webinar Agenda

This webinar will touch upon key product regulatory developments in 2024 and into 2025 as well as looking at the implications of these developments for those companies manufacturing, importing and distributing products, particularly in the EU.

Topics covered will include:

• Product Safety
• Product Sustainability
• Product Liability

Date

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, 11th December, 2024 at 08:00 PDT, 11:00 EDT, 17:00 CET.

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Presenters

Sarah-Jane Dobson, Partner, Ashurst

Sarah-Jane is the Global Head of Product Litigation and Regulatory Risk at Ashurst, where she is a Partner based in the London office. She acts on regulatory, litigious and policy matters across the full product lifecycle in respect of product safety, compliance and product liability and consumer litigation matters. Her corporate clients are from a broad range of sectors including automotive, chemicals, consumer goods, cosmetics, food (including novel foods) and beverages, industrial and life sciences products (medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and advice regarding clinical trials)
In product litigation, she has extensive experience defending corporate clients in high-stakes litigation, including notably the highest profile products-related class actions in Europe and unprecedented criminal investigations in respect of breaches of product safety regulations. She also handles product liability claims, regulatory enforcement actions, inquests, public inquiries (including acting as a Core Participant product manufacturer in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry) and judicial reviews.

In product safety and regulatory, she provides commercially-focused advice across the full product lifecycle from market entry due diligence, regulatory compliance, advertising issues to global product recalls. She has been involved in some of the largest global matters, including product launches and product recalls in respect of 193+ jurisdictions.
With a degree in Science (major in biomedical science) and with having lived and worked in 6 jurisdictions (Australia, Scotland, the Netherlands, Germany, England and the USA), Sarah-Jane is uniquely placed to advise on technical and multi-lingual and multi-jurisdictional matters.
Sarah-Jane holds prominent leadership positions – including as a Member of the Board of Directors for ICPHSO, as a Chair of International Legal Issues for DRI’s Product Liability Committee and Chair (International) of IADC’s Class Actions Committee.

Louise Forrest, Legal Consultant, Ashurst

Louise is a consultant in our global product litigation and product risk (safety and regulatory) practice, advising on matters across all stages of the lifecycle of the product, from product launches, product recalls and ongoing regulatory compliance. Her work crosses many sectors including consumer products, cosmetics, apparel, and chemicals.

Previously, she led a team of international product regulatory consultants for a global provider of market access and product compliance SaaS solutions to world leading brands, helping those companies ensure product compliance. Through this work, Louise gained in-depth knowledge of the changing product regulatory landscape across a wide range of regulated areas including safety, chemicals, design, energy efficiency, batteries, packaging, labelling, waste, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, food contact materials and ESG.
Louise is a qualified Irish barrister, receiving her barrister-in-law degree from Kings Inns, Dublin in 2002.

Vish Karasani, Product Marketing Manager, Compliance & Risks

Vish is a Product Marketing Manager at Compliance & Risks, with over 8 years of international experience working in highly competitive industries and at hyper-growth startups.

An avid storyteller, her product marketing philosophy begins with listening to Compliance & Risks’ customers, understanding their pain points, solving for their problems and building for their future.