Co-sponsored by Morrison & Foerster and the American Law Institute (ALI), this program qualifies for MCLE credit, and can be attended in-person in our San Francisco Office for no charge, or by ALI-CLE webcast with a discounted code.

With the largest consumer market in the nation, California will begin later this year to implement its Green Chemistry Initiative (GCI), a bold new environmental law to restrict toxic chemicals in consumer products. The regulations will broadly affect manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers of a wide variety of consumer products, while posing enormous challenges for their global supply chains. The law is innovative, untested, and potentially expensive in terms of compliance and responding to enforcement. It will set national and cross-border precedent in the regulation of chemicals in consumer products. Planning for these complex regulations is a must for every consumer product company.

Speakers:

• Debbie Raphael
  Director, California Department of Toxic Substances Control
• Dawn Koepke
  Co-Chair, Green Chemistry Alliance, the major industry association group for the GCI.
• Michael Kirschner
  Principal Consultant, ENVIRON International Corporation, and member of the GCI Green Ribbon Science Panel
• Bob Boughton
  Senior Hazardous Substances Engineer, Pollution Prevention and Green Technology Program, California Department of Toxic Substances Control
• Peter Hsiao
  Morrison & Foerster LLP, Los Angeles
• William F. Tarantino
  Morrison & Foerster LLP, San Francisco

Program Schedule

9:00 a.m. The Safer Consumer Product Regulations – Requirements and Dialogue – Mr. Hsiao, Ms. Raphael and Ms. Koepke

• Purpose and intent of the California Green Chemistry Initiative
• Why this law is different than any other consumer product law
• Review of the major requirements of the law and upcoming regulations
• Deadlines and compliance obligations
• Dialogue about challenges to companies that must comply with the law

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. Alternatives Assessment – How to Get Ahead of the Curve – Mr. Tarantino, Mr. Kirschner, Mr. Boughton and other speakers to be confirmed

• Overview of the alternatives assessment process
• The scientific foundation of alternative assessment
• Case studies to illustrate common challenges posed by alternatives assessment
• Lessons from similar initiatives – US EPA’s Design for the Environment and Life Cycle Analysis
• Incorporating product stewardship into existing sustainability programs

12:15 p.m. Adjournment