Dr. Robert Edwards is a member of the Food, Drug, Medical Device & Cosmetic practice. He is also a member of the firm’s Agricultural Technology, Cannabis, Consumer Products, Fashion & Retail Law, and Life Sciences Industry Groups.
Robert holds a D.Phil. (PhD) in bio-organic chemistry from the University of Oxford, England.
* Not a member of the legal practice.
Food, Drugs, Medical Devices & Cosmetics
Robert advises on the chemical, biochemical, and clinical aspects of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and on food and cosmetic ingredients, direct and indirect food additives, dietary supplements, and food safety in general. He prepares Food Contact Notifications (FCNs) for novel food contact substances for submission to FDA, and Health Hazard Evaluations for potential recalls of contaminated food or cosmetics. He also prepares GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) self-affirmations for substances intended to be added to food or dietary supplements, and has acted as administrator for GRAS Expert Panels. He advises on the use of “natural” and related claims for food and cosmetic products in the absence of FDA guidance on the issue. He has assisted in the investigation of possible contamination of pet food. He locates and liaises with specialized laboratories selected for analysis of unusual forms of contamination.
Consumer Products
Robert advises clients on the scientific and technical aspects of consumer product safety, and has made presentations on behalf of clients to staff of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. He has provided scientific support in a wide variety of California Proposition 65 suits, and has actively participated in Joint Defense Groups formed by law firms representing multiple manufacturers and retailers served with common 60-day Notices of Violation (NOV); he also advises clients on proactive formulation or labeling to avoid becoming the target of an NOV. He advises clients on ingredient disclosure requirements under California’s Cleaning Product Right to Know Act and its 22 disparate “designated lists” of chemicals, and on the volatile organic compound (VOC) limits for a variety of consumer products under California’s Air Resources Board (ARB) regulations. He advises clients in the fashion industry on labeling requirements, use of restricted substances, and the international Oeko-Tex standards.
