At this time, we have reached maximum capacity. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please reach out to Meredith Mangas at mmangas@thehcpa.org
*Pre-registration required
Step outside the conference rooms and get a behind-the-scenes look at recycling in action. Join industry colleagues for a tour of the Montgomery County Recycling Center, where you’ll see firsthand how recyclable materials are sorted and processed and learn about the operational and compliance challenges facing modern recycling programs.
By Invitation Only
Kick off the Mid-Year Meeting in the Capital Terrace at the Capital Hilton as we celebrate 250 years of American innovation and progress. Sponsored by Procter & Gamble, enjoy good food and drinks and meaningful networking as we launch a week focused on exploring industry realities and strategic responses.
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Sponsored by:
Insights and Innovations in Cleaning and Floor Care Products
This dynamic two-part session, tailored for the Cleaning and Floor Care Products Divisions, is designed to equip attendees with essential insights into current market trends and certification developments.
Part 1: Market Forces Shaping the Industry
This segment will delve into the key market forces influencing purchasing decisions, product innovation, and brand positioning within the cleaning and floor care categories. By exploring future scenarios, this presentation will examine how emerging technologies may reshape these categories over the next decade. Attendees will gain valuable, data-driven insights into:
Speaker:
Jamie Rosenberg, Principal Strategist, Global Research and Insights, Mintel
Part 2: EWG Verified Cleaners Standard Updates
The second part of this program will focus on exciting updates to the EWG Verified Cleaners Standard. Featuring a discussion on a logo refresh aimed at enhancing communication around safer chemistry to retailers, consumers, and purchasers, key points will include:
This session is ideal for brands, manufacturers, and retailers looking to navigate the evolving landscape of certification programs and seize opportunities for promoting safer, more sustainable products.
Speakers:
Clive Davis, Vice President, Environmental Working Group (EWG) Verified®
Lauren Duffy, Senior Director, EWG Verified®
Taylor Dunivin, Director of Science Communication, EWG Verified®
This session will explore key topics impacting the aerosol products industry, ranging from innovation to end-of-life considerations. Attendees will hear from regulatory officials at the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the EPA’s Chemicals, Coatings, and Products Division.
Speakers:
Steven Andrews, Acting Senior Regulations Officer, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
Don Burger, Director of the Special Permits Program, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
Brian Houston, Solstice Advanced Materials
Sami Ki, Senior Manager, Sustainability & Product Stewardship, HCPA
Allison Lim, Innovation Analyst, RTI International
Manon Pascal, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Lindal North America
Jim Topich, Chief Innovation Officer, Kinetic Vision
Fragrance & the Modern Consumer: Safety, Science, and Social Media
This session will examine how evolving science, regulatory pressure, and consumer perspectives are reshaping product development and post-market risk management, with a focus on fragrance.
As volatile organic compound (VOC) regulations continue to tighten across North America, manufacturers and fragrance houses are moving beyond ethanol- and propellant-dependent delivery systems toward fundamentally new fragrance architectures that preserve performance while reducing or eliminating VOC use and enabling new product formats and portfolio differentiation.
The session will then turn to a timely discussion on post-market surveillance in the age of social media where viral trends can transform isolated misuse patterns into widespread public health concerns overnight. Attendees will walk away with critical intake questions and best practices for adverse event documentation.
The session will close with a joint exploration of fragrance safety in consumer products, highlighting new research from the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) and how it is reaching consumers through educational media. Attendees will also participate in a demonstration illustrating real-world exposure to fragrance ingredients in scented products.
Speakers:
Danielle Botelho, The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM)
Ashley Brown, Clinical Toxicology Manager and Senior Clinical Toxicologist, SafetyCall International, LLC
Alison Sykes, Innovation Advisor, RTI International
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With Keynote Speaker: Chris Cassidy, NASA Astronaut, U.S. Navy SEAL
This program will explore the process of introducing products into the Canadian and Latin American markets. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the key regulatory requirements for bringing both consumer and workplace products into these regions.
Speakers:
Kirsten Alcock, Director of Product Safety, Dell Tech Laboratories
Dana Mladin, Principal Technical Consultant, Dell Tech Laboratories
Melissa Owen, Founder, AMBIENTELEGAL
The regulatory landscape for 25(b) products continues to evolve as the EPA and states grapple with inconsistent approaches to minimum risk (25(b)) pesticides – a reality that creates both compliance challenges and market opportunities. This session will provide an update on the strategic work of the joint HCPA/AAPCO 25(b) Work Group to bring greater clarity and consistency to this space, along with an update from the EPA’s Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division.
Speaker:
Shannon Borges, Acting Director, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, EPA
This is a closed meeting for members of the SPSC Executive Board. Board members will receive the meeting agenda by email.
The Industrial & Automotive Products Division covers products used by consumers and service centers to maintain and protect automobiles, as well as industrial products used in the manufacturing process or to maintain machinery and equipment. This session will explore potential opportunities to reduce hazards in industrial settings, particularly food processing facilities, as well as how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) impacts products in this space.
Speaker:
John Howell, Business Development Manager, Novonesis
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The Aerosol Products Division’s Scientific Committee develops standards and specifications, participates in relevant research efforts, and explores current and potential aerosol technologies. The Committee also engages with global institutions that impact the storage, trade, and manufacturing of aerosol products to ensure that these practices are safe, effective, and manageable.
FIFRA Enforcement: E-Commerce, Trends, and Lessons Learned
Building on the foundation established at the HCPA Annual Meeting session, FIFRA Enforcement in Focus: Navigating Oversight in a Changing Regulatory Landscape, this session will take a deeper dive into the evolving enforcement environment for products regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). With continued scrutiny at U.S. borders, shifting regulatory priorities, and the rapid expansion of e-commerce, companies face a more complex compliance landscape than ever before.
The session will examine how enforcement authorities are adapting their strategies to address emerging risks across both traditional and online sales channels, and experts will draw on case studies involving e-commerce and other enforcement actions to offer practical, real-world compliance lessons.
Topics will include how to identify whether an enforcement action is legitimate; how enforcement scrutiny differs depending on whether a chemical enters commerce as a pesticide or a different substance; the role of AI tools in modern enforcement activities; and how states are operating under the cooperative agreement framework, especially as negotiations for Fiscal Year 2026 and beyond remain ongoing.
The session will also cover inter-regional enforcement coordination, including how states collaborate with the EPA and other states to achieve compliance, as well as the range of tools available to state enforcement programs.
Participants will leave with actionable insights for navigating this increasingly complex regulatory environment.
Speakers:
Michael Boucher, Partner, Steptoe
Dave Huber, Deputy Director, Division of Plant Industry at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Beyond What You Can See: Quantifying Clean with XRF Technology
The Floor Care Products Division meeting will open with a special interactive presentation from Lee Phillips of Professional Testing Laboratory, the lab of record behind the carpet industry’s leading Seal of Approval program administered by the Carpet and Rug Institute. Lee will introduce attendees to the latest advancements in proprietary XRF technology, which enables a precise, quantitative measurement of cleaning effectiveness – moving beyond traditional visual assessments to data-driven performance insights.
Building on its success in the carpet and rug sector, Professional Testing Laboratory is expanding this technology into a new certification program for hard surfaces, including LVT, LVP, laminates, and more. Through real-world examples and audience discussion, Lee will explore common challenges observed in the field across substrates, equipment, and cleaning solutions and how this next-generation testing approach can support innovation from early-stage R&D to substantiating product performance claims in the marketplace.
Following this special presentation, the meeting will transition to regular Floor Care Products Division business, bringing together formulators, suppliers, distributors, and consultants committed to advancing the technical performance and safety of floor care products. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussions that shape the Division's priorities and future direction, as well as receive an update on ongoing activity by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) by Doug Raymond of Raymond Regulatory Resources (3R).
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Speaker:
Lee Phillips, Laboratory Director, Professional Testing Labs
This session will highlight HCPA’s current federal advocacy efforts and the evolving policy landscape, including major Congressional and Administration actions related to TSCA, EPA appropriations, the Safer Choice Program Authorization Act, PRIA reauthorization, and HCPA’s strategy for engaging policymakers on behalf of the industry. Members will leave with a clearer understanding of the federal issues most likely to affect business operations, innovation, product regulation, and market access in the year ahead.
The Membership Committee plans and executes programming for the Aerosol Products Division, maintains and improves the engagement of aerosol members, and recruits new aerosol or aerosol-adjacent companies to join HCPA.
Immediately following the Division meeting, the Floor Care Products Division Executive Board will convene for a closed meeting to discuss governance, strategic priorities, and next steps for the Division. Attendance is limited to Board members.
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The Aerosol Products Division’s Regulatory Committee develops and advances policies that promote and protect the safe and effective use of aerosol products. The Regulatory Committee engages with federal and state legislators and global stakeholders to promote trade, harmonize laws, and ensure that regulations are consistent. The Regulatory Committee also works to minimize potential disruptions throughout the supply chain and improve the sustainability of aerosol products.
The Air Care Products Division focuses on products designed to enhance or condition the indoor environment by combating unpleasant odors, freshening the air, or removing airborne particles. This session will bring together fragrance and other ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, and marketers of air care products to provide an update on and discuss key Division issues and initiatives.
During this session, EPA AD will provide an update on the Division’s latest activities, including priorities and staffing updates. This session will also include an interactive discussion with EPA AD staff about the Emerging Viral Pathogen (EVP) program for antimicrobial pesticides.
Speakers:
Tajah Blackburn, Senior Scientist, EPA AD Efficacy Branch
Elizabeth Donovan, Associate Director, Office of Pesticide Programs, Antimicrobials Division, EPA
Kristen Willis, Acting EPA Antimicrobials Division (AD) Director
Tiffany Yelverton, Senior Scientist Advisor, EPA
Two powerful regulatory forces – the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) – are reshaping the compliance landscape for CPG companies. CPSC has shifted its enforcement priorities in ways that have led to high-profile cases and introduced new risks, while the Supreme Court’s upcoming review of Monsanto v. Durnell could fundamentally reshape the FIFRA preemption framework on which the industry has long relied. This session will provide attendees with a clear assessment of both developments and practical strategies for minimizing exposure.
CPSC Enforcement - This presentation will focus on recent changes in the enforcement priorities by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). These changes have led to some recent high-profile cases making the news, and this session will provide recommendations to companies to minimize their compliance risks.
Speakers:
Neal Cohen, Partner, Neal Cohen LLC
Boaz Green, Partner, Neal Cohen LLC
FIFRA Preemption - This presentation will focus on FIFRA preemption and the implications of the Monsanto v. Durnell case, which will be heard by the United States Supreme Court in late April 2026. The outcome of this case could have significant implications on FIFRA products.
Speaker:
Shannen Coffin, Partner, Steptoe
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Grab some coffee and refreshments and join Reverse Logistics Group (RLG) to discuss EPR solutions. Discover how RLG’s global teams are helping producers by simplifying the EPR compliance process, and how they’re supporting PROs with planning, operations, and tech to enable EPR programs. As part of the Reconomy family of brands, RLG is building the circular economy across the entire return logistics supply chain. This is an exclusive opportunity to meet their experts and learn more!
During this session, the Air Quality Council will prepare for the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) next consumer products rulemaking, including the transition to Maximum Incremental Reactivity (MIR). The Council will also discuss volatile organic compound (VOC) activity across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, as well as ongoing work by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
During this session, EPA BEAD will provide an update on the Division’s latest activities, including priorities, test method development updates, and outreach efforts. This session will also include an interactive working session with BEAD staff for deep dive discussions on topics of interest to attendees.
Speakers:
Rebecca Pines, Branch Chief, EPA OPP BEAD, Microbiology Laboratory Branch (MLB)
Yaorong Qian, Senior Scientist, EPA OPP BEAD, Analytical Chemistry Branch (ACB)
Donald Wilbur, Director, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Biological and Economic Analysis Division (BEAD)
Steve Zhou, Senior Scientist, EPA OPP BEAD, Microbiology Laboratory Branch (MLB)
During this session, Dr. Rich Engler and Ryan Schmit from Bergeson & Campbell will discuss all things TSCA. Key to the conversation will be EPA regulatory developments, major litigation affecting TSCA implementation, business critical changes impacting the protection of confidential business information, and the latest legislative activity in Congress. This 90-minute session will help attendees better understand what is changing across the regulatory, legal, and policy landscapes, what those developments could mean for product innovation and market access, and where HCPA’s advocacy priorities may head for the balance of 2026.
Speakers:
Rich Engler, Director of Chemistry, Bergson & Campbell
Ryan Schmit, Of Counsel, Bergeson & Campbell
Speaker:
Douglas Troutman, Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety & Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Join Douglas Troutman, Assistant Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety & Pollution Prevention, for a timely discussion on the Administration’s priorities for regulating chemical products and improving regulatory outcomes. This session will offer attendees valuable insight into current developments related to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA), as well as the broader direction of federal chemical policy. This is a unique opportunity for attendees to hear directly from one of the EPA’s top leaders on key regulatory issues affecting household and commercial product manufacturers, suppliers, and marketers, including time for Q&A.
Sponsored by:
EPR Readiness: Legal, Retail, and Industry Perspectives
As Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies expand across the U.S. and globally, companies are navigating an increasingly complex and fragmented regulatory landscape. This session will bring together legal, retail, and industry perspectives to explore the key forces shaping EPR implementation and compliance. Experts will discuss emerging legal challenges, evolving retailer expectations, and the growing need for more strategic, coordinated approaches to packaging decisions.
This session will specifically highlight how organizations are approaching EPR more holistically, aligning compliance, cost, and operational considerations across markets. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the risks, tradeoffs, and opportunities shaping packaging and sustainability strategies in an EPR-driven world.
Moderator:
Michael Washburn, Principal, Washburn Consulting: Sustainability & Public Affairs
Speakers:
Michael Boucher, Partner, Steptoe
Colin Preston, Managing Consultant, Ramboll
State-level regulatory activity is accelerating on multiple fronts, creating an increasingly complex operating environment for pesticide registrants. This session will explore three emerging challenges requiring strategic attention: (1) the implementation of bilingual labeling requirements, (2) preparation for Minnesota’s PFAS prohibitions affecting pesticide products, and (3) a broader landscape update from HCPA’s state Government Relations & Public Policy team on what lies ahead.
Speaker:
Liane Jenkins, Managing Scientist, Exponent
HCPA is increasingly prioritizing state-level engagement, where policy activity is accelerating and often setting the tone for national policy trends. This session will provide a focused, in-depth look at recent policy activity in Vermont and New Hampshire, two states that are emerging as key drivers of policy approaches in important issue areas. This session will provide insights into the overall direction of state policymaking, the motivations behind these proposals, and their implications for broader adoption in other jurisdictions in an overall effort to help members anticipate emerging policy trends, assess business impacts, and effectively communicate and contextualize these trends within their organizations.
Moderator:
Mike Gruber, Chief Operating Officer, HCPA
Speakers:
Angela Brennan, President, a.b. STRATEGIES
Allison Crowley, Owner & Lobbyist, Crowley Consulting
Since the 1980s, HCPA has helped develop and maintain both National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and international fire and building codes that allow aerosols to be manufactured, distributed, stored in warehouses, and placed on retailer shelves. HCPA uses sound science to ensure that its positions are credible and compelling to fire officials, insurers, and fire engineering professionals who manage the nation’s complex system of fire and building codes. During this working session, attendees will discuss the latest developments related to aerosol fire codes and help set the direction for future advocacy and technical positions.
This session will bring together raw material suppliers, manufacturers, and marketers of household and professional cleaning and care products. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussions that shape the Cleaning Products Division's priorities and future direction, as well as hear an update on ongoing activity by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Speaker:
Doug Raymond, President, Raymond Regulatory Resources (3R), LLC
Defining Product Stewardship: Practical Approaches and Strategic Impact
A product steward's primary role is to minimize product risk and work toward creating safer, more sustainable products. They are responsible for managing the health, safety, and environmental impacts of a product across its lifecycle. This involves collaborating with key stakeholders from procurement, R&D, regulatory authorities and standardization, hazard communication, and marketing, all the way through end-of-life. Product stewards must anticipate not only compliance risks, but also potential risks to consumers and the environment. Their evolving role is challenged by pressures such as sustainability concerns, shifting scientific knowledge, and the need to address unintentional consequences or product misuse.
This session will provide participants with a foundational understanding of product stewardship, including key definitions and core principles. Board members from the Product Stewardship Society (PSS) will explore how product stewardship can be integrated into business processes, career pathways, and professional growth, while also offering practical examples of stewardship in action.
Speakers:
Alison Gauthier, Managing Scientist, Exponent
John Hott, Client Solution Principal Consultant, Yordas Group
Giselle Vincett, Vice President of North America, Yordas Limited
The Executive Board provides strategic direction and oversees the activities of the Air Care Products Division. This session will discuss strategic priorities, key focus areas, and initiatives.
AI is no longer on the horizon – it’s an operational reality reshaping how regulatory work gets done. However, adoption without a clear strategy risks undermining the expertise and accountability on which our industry depends.
This capstone panel will bring together regulatory professionals and AI practitioners to share lessons learned, common pitfalls, and practical strategies for integrating AI into regulatory workflows effectively and responsibly. Audience participation and discussion will be encouraged.
Speakers:
Kirill Ivanov, Co-Founder and COO, GetGenAI
Charlie Vallely, CEO and Co-Founder, Smarter Sorting
Join us in the Presidential Ballroom at the Capital Hilton for an evening of live music, delicious drinks, and an engaging atmosphere where business meets entertainment.
Sponsored by Spartan Chemical Company, this lively reception will offer the perfect opportunity to connect with colleagues, unwind after a productive week, and enjoy a high-energy dueling piano performance. Bring your song requests and get ready for a memorable night of music and connection.
Sponsored by:
With Keynote Speaker: Brody Mullins, Nationally Acclaimed Investigative Reporter on Business and Government
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This working session offers members an opportunity to take a deep dive into a topic of strategic interest to the Antimicrobial Products Division. These sessions typically produce a tangible work product that can be leveraged by both the Division and HCPA in future advocacy efforts to support the continued growth and success of the sector.
From Proposition 65 (Prop 65) listings to an increasingly fragmented patchwork of state PFAS regulations, the compliance landscape facing manufacturers has never been more complex – or more consequential. This session will address both realities head-on:
Speakers:
Hunter Kendrick, Counsel, Latham & Watkins
Tom Lee, Partner, Latham & Watkins
Speaker:
Navigating the PFAS Regulatory Maze: State-by-State Compliance Strategies and Litigation Risk Management
Darci Ferrer, Assistant Director, Greenberg Traurig LLP
Kaitlyn Maxwell, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP
From Market Challenges to Leadership: Green Seal’s Path for Sustainable Products
This session will explore emerging leadership in sustainable product standards and real-world innovation in safer chemistry.
Part one of this session will highlight Green Seal’s initiative to align retailers, brands, and advocates around a shared definition of sustainability leadership for everyday products – bringing greater clarity, consistency, and credibility to a rapidly evolving marketplace. Participants will receive an overview of key product leadership elements identified to date, including safer chemicals, responsible sourcing, low-impact manufacturing, and sustainable packaging. Doug Gatlin, CEO of Green Seal, will share the vision and direction of this work, joined by Steering Committee members offering cross-sector perspectives and insights into the considerations shaping criteria development.
Part two of this session will bring these concepts to life through a case study from one of the first companies to achieve Green Seal certification for floor care products formulated without intentionally added PFAS. Attendees will learn what motivated the company to pursue certification, outline the process for achieving certification, and discuss the value it delivers – from product performance and market differentiation to advancing safer chemistry.
Attendees will leave with a better understanding of where product sustainability standards are heading and how organizations can respond with credible, high-impact strategies.
Speakers:
Jamey Gaston, VP of Quality, Science, & Regulatory, Midlab Inc.
Doug Gatlin, CEO, Green Seal
The Executive Board oversees the activity of the Aerosol Products Division and discusses strategies for advancing and protecting the industry.
Global EPR Compliance: Unpacking the Overlap Between the EU's PPWR and California's SB 54
For companies operating across multiple jurisdictions, changes made to meet one set of requirements can have unintended impacts elsewhere, or lead to opportunities to streamline. This session will examine areas where the EU’s 2024 Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and California’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law for packaging, SB 54, align and differ. The session will also cover how stronger data management can simplify compliance across jurisdictions, providing attendees with practical strategies for centralizing packaging data, improving reporting readiness, and building scalable compliance processes that can keep pace with expanding regulations.
Speakers:
Joseph Dages, Partner, Steptoe
Tina Nguyen, Business Development Manager, RLG
The Executive Board oversees the activities of the Antimicrobial Products Division and focuses on strategies to advance and protect the antimicrobial products industry. This session will cover key initiatives, industry challenges, and strategic priorities to ensure the continued growth and success of the sector.
As the EPA’s Registration Division navigates resource constraints and shifting priorities, staying aligned with the Agency’s direction is critical for effective registration strategy. This session will feature an update directly from the Registration Division, as well as a report on HCPA’s Pest Management Products Division activities and strategic priorities.
Speaker:
Billy Smith, Director, Registration Division, EPA
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This is your opportunity to translate what your company is experiencing in the marketplace into concrete, real-world insights that Congressional offices rely on when shaping legislation and setting appropriations priorities.
You’ll meet directly with members and staff to make the business case for: