Kathryn (Katie) Skaggs is an expert in the regulation of food contact materials in a host of jurisdictions including the U.S., EU, South America (particularly the MERCOSUR bloc), Canada, China, eastern Asia, India, the Middle East (GCC), Australia, and New Zealand. Katie assists companies in bringing to market new food contact materials, such as plastics, biopolymers, paper, adhesives, coatings, recycled materials, and components of these materials (antioxidants, colorants, and other additives and processing aids), through submissions to government agencies in the U.S. and abroad. She manages post-market issues for food contact substances, such as recalls and accidental adulterations, and advises on environmental claims for food contact materials, as well as compliance with state laws like California's Proposition 65.

In addition to her extensive experience with food contact regulatory matters, Katie is an active member of the firm’s Tobacco and E-vapor practice, focusing on the regulation of these products in the U.S. and EU. She assists companies with Standalone Grandfather Submissions, Substantial Equivalence (SE) Reports, Product Quantity Change SE Reports, Premarket Tobacco Applications, and other submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products. 

Katie 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. In addition, she 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.  

Katie has a background in public health (epidemiology, biostatistics, and chronic disease research), enabling her to fully engage with the technical aspects of regulatory work for Keller and Heckman clients. Katie also has held faculty positions at the University of Rochester, American University, and Maryville University.

Representative Matters

• Separately assisted a polymer manufacturer and an additive manufacturer to obtain food contact clearances for their products in numerous jurisdictions (U.S., Canada, Indonesia, Korea, India), leveraging datasets across jurisdictions to maximize efficiency and decrease time to market
• Assisted a recycled pulp manufacturer in assessing the suitable purity of the pulp for use in contact with food
• Drafted dozens of successful Food Contact Notifications (FCN) submitted to FDA to clear new food contact substances in the U.S. 
• Assisted a manufacturer of food service articles and food packaging in assessing the need for labeling under Proposition 65 for multiple product lines

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Food and Drug Law Institute

Awards

• Outstanding Graduate Award, American University Washington College of Law
• Senior Articles Editor, American University Law Review