George Misko counsels domestic and foreign clients on food and drug matters. He advises clients on regulatory requirements relating to chemical substances specific to food contact, plastics, and food products in the United States (U.S.) and other jurisdictions, including Canada, the European Union (EU), Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. George also has experience in counseling on environmental concerns, including pesticide regulation, right-to-know laws, and toxic substance control regulations. He also represents trade associations and is legal counsel to the Global Silicones Council.

Prior to joining Keller and Heckman, George was Senior Regulatory Counsel for the Chemical Specialty Manufacturers Association (now known as the Household & Commercial Products Association), where he counseled on a broad range of environmental and health and safety issues. He is an experienced civil trial and appellate litigator and served as a law clerk to the late Honorable Nicholas S. Nunzio, Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

George is one of the firm’s food and drug practice group leaders. He also acts as the firm's editor and is a contributing author for packaginglaw.com. He is a frequent contributor to trade publications, including Food Safety Magazine and Packaging Digest, and he is frequently invited to speak at numerous conferences on food contact and chemical control laws.

Representative Matters

• Assisted numerous clients on developing a path forward and assisting in the preparation and submission of petitions and notifications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to clear new packaging and other materials for use in contact with food
• Advised clients on matters related to California’s Proposition 65 since its beginning in 1986, and has successfully negotiated the resolution of Notices of Violation regarding consumer products and assisted companies in the proper assessment of their products to determine whether a warning under the law is necessary in industrial settings, for environmental releases, and for consumer product usage
• Counseled numerous companies, both domestic and foreign, in establishing a suitable status for goods made from recycled materials (both paper and plastic), including obtaining FDA concurrence when needed
• Obtained favorable clearances for new polymers and additives in Asia, including China, Japan, and India, South America, and the European Union
• Advised and guided the Global Silicones Council on successfully challenging before a CEPA Board of Review the conclusion of Environment Canada to declare and regulate the siloxane D5 as a PBT

Memberships

• American Bar Association (ABA)

Awards

• The Best Lawyers in America^®: FDA Law, 2019 - 2023