Mark Thompson counsels companies and trade associations on global compliance requirements applicable to finished foods, food additives, food packaging materials, cosmetics, industrial chemicals, and associated labeling in Asia, the United States (U.S.), and the European Union (EU). He also advises clients on the regulation of drugs and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Asia.
Mark began his career at Keller and Heckman in the Washington, DC office. From 2009 through 2016, he was based in the firm’s Shanghai Representative office, where he gained extensive experience and perspective on the regulatory scheme in China and throughout Asia. During that time, he assisted foreign and domestic companies in evaluating and securing new clearances for products in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and other Asian countries.
Mark is the co-host of Food & Chemicals Unpacked, Keller and Heckman’s podcast regarding the legal and scientific issues surrounding the food, chemical, packaging, and related consumer product industries. In addition, he is a contributing author to packaginglaw.com, which provides news and analysis of worldwide packaging regulations, and is frequently invited to speak at international regulatory conferences.
While in law school, Mark was a contract law teaching assistant and an Associate Editor for the Commlaw Conspectus. These experiences enhance his practice by providing a deeper insight into contract law and policy matters, respectively.
Representative Matters
- Advised on the compliance status of finished health food products marketed in China and elsewhere
- Submitted hundreds of food contact submissions to the Chinese government and dozens of Food Contact Notifications (FCN) to clear new packaging materials, including biopolymers, oxygen scavengers, and other emerging technologies
- Secured direct food additive approvals in the U.S. and Asia
- Compiled a comprehensive review of requirements for sourcing algae in Asia as it relates to the Convention on Biological Diversity
- Submitted industry comments on legislation concerning food and food contact materials in China and elsewhere in Asia, seeking common sense exemptions and revisions
- Prepared a trade association White Paper on China’s regulation of food packaging materials
- Delivered presentations and other training to individual corporations and trade groups around the world
Education
More Legal and Business Bylines From Mark Thompson
- Food & Chemicals Unpacked: Much Ado About TiO2 [Podcast] - (Posted On Tuesday, May 07, 2024)
- Food and Chemicals Unpacked: Pit Stop at Chevron: Will We See a Difference in Deference? [PODCAST] - (Posted On Tuesday, June 13, 2023)
- Food and Chemicals Unpacked: Got Milk? An Inside Look at the Infant Formula Shortage [PODCAST] - (Posted On Friday, August 19, 2022)
- Food & Chemicals Unpacked Podcast Ep. 1: PFAS and Furious [PODCAST] - (Posted On Thursday, February 17, 2022)
- China Takes The Air Out of Excessive Packaging - (Posted On Monday, September 13, 2021)
- A Move to Mandatory: Japan Finalizes Positive List for "Synthetic Resins" in Food-Contact Articles - (Posted On Friday, May 22, 2020)
- A Move to Mandatory: Japan Finalizes its Positive List for “Synthetic Resins” - (Posted On Saturday, May 09, 2020)
- Japan Notifies WTO of its New Positive List for Plastic Food-Contact Materials - (Posted On Tuesday, August 20, 2019)
- Japan's Regulation of Food Contact Materials - A Step Closer to the New Positive List System - (Posted On Monday, February 25, 2019)
- China's National People's Congress Passes Reshuffle Plan to Establish New Food and Food-Related Agencies - (Posted On Thursday, March 22, 2018)