Specialty chemicals company LANXESS Deutschland GmbH expands the distribution of its innovative cold sterilisation technologies Velcorin® and Nagardo® for beverages in a further 45 countries following the successful approval obtained with the support of global law firm Clifford Chance.
The cold sterilisation agent Velcorin® helps to protect non-alcoholic soft drinks and wine from harmful microorganisms – without affecting the taste, smell or colour of the beverage. Nagardo® is a natural preservative obtained without chemical modification, thus meeting the demand of beverage producers for more natural products while providing efficient protection and extending the shelf life and freshness of beverages. The use of both products can help promote sustainability goals for beverage producers by reducing energy consumption when converting to cold filling with one or the combination of both products. Furthermore, less PET is required for the beverage bottles than with hot filling due to the thinner walls.
Legal experts from Clifford Chance’s global network, including the firm’s own Africa group and from cooperation law firms, have so far advised LANXESS in relation to the necessary regulatory approval procedures for Velcorin® and Nagardo® in 45 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, including Albania, Australia, Bahrain, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Chile, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Germany, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, the Philippines, the Republic of Congo, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sudan, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Trinidad Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Yemen and Zambia.
Gunnar Sachs, partner at Clifford Chance: “We are very pleased to be able to provide legal advice to our long-standing client LANXESS on this strategic project. The mandate required in-depth sector expertise, which we can provide worldwide with our unique global network of experts in the chemicals sector.”
With around 13,000 employees in 32 countries, LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals group headquartered in Cologne. Its core business is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives and consumer protection products. The group generated annual sales of €8.1 billion in 2022.
The Clifford Chance team advising on the international project was led by partner Gunnar Sachs and associate Marlene Kießling (both Corporate/Chemicals) as well as legal project manager Pascal Weber (Head of Legal Project Management Europe) and also included colleagues from the respective Clifford Chance offices and cooperation law firms worldwide.
The in-house team at LANXESS was coordinated in the legal department by Maike Krewet, Senior Counsel & Head of Business Team, as well as operationally by Friedrich Koch, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Material Protection Products Business Line Beverage Technology, and Andrea Bosse, Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager.
