Edward M. Ruckert

Edward M. Ruckert counsels domestic and multinational companies in the food, fiber, nursery production and processing industries, and in allied industries such as agricultural chemicals and chemical nutrients. He is co-head of the Firm's Food, Agriculture and International Trade Group.

Edward represents clients before the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Food and Drug Administration, the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior. He assists clients in providing input into government regulatory policies and developing operational programs with the client in response to those policies. He also counsels companies through a variety of proceedings, including regulatory enforcement, risk mitigation negotiations, data compensation arbitrations and recalls. Edward also represents clients before the US Congress and in federal courts.

Edward has advised clients in numerous food safety and marketing matters domestically and internationally, including securing the registration and re-registration of chemicals in the United States, advising companies in obtaining and maintaining listing for crop protection products in the European Union, contracting with laboratories worldwide to develop data supporting the safety and use of food and chemical products, developing data licensing agreements, and addressing plant quarantine issues.

He has a deep understanding of the requirements of the National Organic Program, and also helps clients develop labeling and claims for foods and agricultural chemicals and establish appropriate chemical tolerances (maximum residue levels) in foods. He assists companies in fulfilling the requirements for testing and approval of bioengineered products, in establishing food standards of identity and defect action levels for contaminants, addressing Proposition 65 requirements as well as with crisis management matters. In addition, Edward advises clients on government food purchase programs and participates in due diligence activities associated with mergers and acquisitions involving food and chemical companies.