Research Internship [Regulatory]

Starting Date: September 04, 2023
Application Closing date: August 1, 2023
Location: India

About the Global Product Compliance (GPC) Group

Global Product Compliance (GPC) specializes in Global Regulatory Compliance Solutions. Since 2008, GPC has emerged as one of the leading names among Global Regulatory Compliance service providers with Representation services in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East for respective chemical regulations.

Our over 1500 Happy Clients are a testimony to the great rapport we share with them and the fine quality that we offer in our services. This is also reflected in the fact that we have about 99% customer retention (Client loyalty) and we have had over 172 companies opting to switch over to us from other service providers, for better and cost-effective services.

Our extensive experience in regulatory compliance services started with EU REACH but our large client base has motivated us to venture into every new regulation that has emerged over the past few years like Cosmetics Regulations (EU, India, and the USA), Korea and Turkey REACH, and the regulations in the UK, Eurasia, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, China, US, Canada, Latin America, etc.

Being India's largest regulatory compliance service provider, GPC has been actively contributing to the finalization of India’s chemical regulation and policy (Indian Chemical (Management and Safety) Rules (CMSR)). Indian Ministry of Commerce has commissioned GPC for several studies and reports which have contributed significantly to the upcoming Indian CMSR.

Read more about us on our website website or follow us on LinkedIn

About the Internship

Applications are invited from candidates who are interested in Chemical Compliance or related to the above-mentioned project area/specific topic in this research internship announcement. Applicants must be enrolled in Master studies, preferably in the final year of his/her educational program. Applicants who recently completed their studies in higher education can also apply. During your internship, you will be expected to provide a mid-term and final presentation together with a final report summarizing the findings of your studies in the field. You will be guided and supervised by mentors throughout the internship. GPC grows with interns and ensures our interns develop hands-on skills related to the direct implementation of policies and consulting.

Internship Duration: 3 - 6 months.

Why work with us?

·       Regulatory training will be provided from the beginning.

·       Access to GPC’s webinars and events organized to learn more about the state of the art of different regulations globally.

·       Get an applied first-hand experience of your thesis work.

·       Get international exposure for applying for higher studies.

·       Possibility of journal publication, depending upon high quality and significant work.

·       Opportunity to present your research work at conferences/seminars.

·       There is no fee for the internship program.

·       Excellent successful completion of the internship project (≥80% equivalent grades) will be rewarded with a cash price of a total of 15000 INR (3 Months) and 30000 INR (6 months) at the master’s level.

·       Certificate of excellence for outstanding performers with 5000 INR additional reward.

·       Interns of this program will be prioritized when suitable project/employment opportunities arise.

Description

Project area 1: Chemicals regulations

There is a constant increase in the production of chemicals across the globe, which not only has an impact on the environment but also there is a rise in the exposure of hazardous industrial chemicals on human beings, which has significant health issues worldwide. In such a scenario, there is a requirement of certain safety regulations for chemicals for various stages e.g., during production, handling, and disposal.

Global Product Compliance (GPC), one of the leading names among Regulatory Compliance Service Providers with Representation services in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East for respective chemical regulations, has followed closely with the development of chemical policies worldwide and assisted companies to comply with chemical regulations worldwide. Internship topics under Project Area 1 are:

1. Regulatory stakeholder mapping (EU as a case study) - include EU's Green Deal Chemical policies.

Project area 2: Food Contact Materials FCM regulations

FCMs are the materials or articles which encounters food items, such as a container for food storage, Utensils used during cooking, serving, and consumption of food, cans / coated bottle/glass for any kind of drinks, processing machines or packaging materials that transfer certain molecules or constituents in food. These could be metal (e.g., Al), plastic, paper, any coating, rubber, etc. which encounters food directly or indirectly. Therefore, FCM is necessary to ensure that FCMs are inert enough and not affecting food quality or consumer health. To maintain the safety standard of FCMs associated business operators need to comply with certain regulations, which will be studied in this project. The internship topic under Project Area 2 is:

1. Food Contact Materials (FCM) regulatory updates in Southeast Asia, Eurasia, Taiwan, UK, Australia

Project area 3: Agrochemical regulations

The agrochemical sector plays a crucial role in ensuring the global food supply chain remains efficient and sustainable. Agrochemicals, including pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, are essential in modern agriculture for protecting crops from pests and diseases, improving yields, and promoting sustainable farming practices. However, the use of these substances also raises concerns regarding their potential impact on human health and the environment. To address these concerns, regulatory bodies around the world have implemented stringent guidelines and regulations to ensure the safe and responsible use of agrochemicals.

In contrast to the European approach, which typically provides for EU-level examination of active substances and member state-level authorization of biocidal products, the allocation of jurisdiction between federal and state authorities in the US is different (although EU-level authorization will now be available for some products under the new biocides Regulation). The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to not only evaluate active ingredients but also register formulated pesticides for distribution and sale, regulates all pesticides in the US, including biocides, which are known as antimicrobial pesticides in the country.

The activity of germicides against microorganisms depends on several factors, some of which are intrinsic qualities of the organism, others of which are the chemical and external physical environment. Efficacy data are a fundamental component in the regulatory management and decision-making process for active substances and biocidal products. This data is required to establish the benefit arising from the use of the active substance in biocidal products and must be balanced against the risks their uses pose to humans and the environment.

The internship topic under Project Area 3 are:

1. Agrochemical updates in Southeast Asia

2. Comparison of the regulatory framework of biocides in the EU and US

3. Agrochemical updates in the USA

4. Understanding EU fertilizer regulation 1107/2009- fertilizer, nutrients, biofertilizer, and bio-stimulants

Project area 4: Safety - ED/CMR

Endocrine disruptors are substances that can interfere with the hormonal system, causing adverse effects on human health and the environment. Carcinogens are substances capable of causing cancer in living organisms, while mutagens can induce genetic mutations in DNA and potentially lead to diseases or other abnormalities. Substances that are toxic to reproduction have the potential to impair fertility and cause adverse effects on reproductive organs or processes. It is important to minimize exposure to such substances to protect both individuals and ecosystems.

Regulations on chemicals with endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, or mutagens to the reproductive system are necessary for the protection of human health, prevention of reproductive disorders, cancer prevention, environmental protection, and international harmonization. The medical device regulations regulate the clinical investigation and sale of medical devices for human use, including carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic for reproduction (CMR) and endocrine disruptor (ED) substances. These regulations prioritize human health, reproductive well-being, cancer prevention, environmental protection, and international cooperation.

The internship topic under Project Area 4 are:

1. Study of current regulations on endocrine disruptors and CMRs

2. Comparative analysis of international regulations on endocrine disruptors and CMRs

Project area 5: Regulatory compliance/affairs

Regulatory compliance and affairs play a crucial role in ensuring that products and brands meet the necessary standards and regulations set by governmental bodies and industry organizations. This helps protect consumer health and safety, promote fair trade practices, and mitigate environmental impacts. In the global market, there are both mandatory and voluntary certification schemes that assess and validate products and brands based on specific criteria.

Mandatory certification refers to requirements that are legally enforced by regulatory authorities. These certifications are often tied to specific industries or product categories and are necessary to demonstrate compliance with essential health, safety, and quality standards. The specifications for end applications of products can vary depending on the industry and region. For example, in the automotive sector, products must adhere to various safety and performance standards, while in the food industry, products must meet strict guidelines related to hygiene, labelling, and ingredients.

Voluntary certification, on the other hand, is not legally required but serves as a way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to certain principles or standards. These certifications are often sought after by organizations to enhance their reputation, meet customer expectations, and gain a competitive edge. Voluntary certifications typically focus on areas such as sustainability, environmental responsibility, social ethics, and product quality.

These certifications, among others, help companies demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, ethical practices, and quality assurance. By adhering to these standards and obtaining certifications, businesses can enhance their credibility, meet consumer demands, and contribute to a more sustainable and responsible global market.

The internship topic under Project Area 5 are:

1. To study mandatary/voluntary certification including the specifications for end application of products/ brands placed in the global market (Eco Vadis, Ecocert, GOTS, Blue sign, Green seal, and similar)

Responsibilities

·       Navigate the regulations that apply to the industries (e.g., Industrial chemicals, cosmetics, agrochemicals, food, etc.).

·       Provide country-specific regulatory interpretation and guidance on regulatory requirements for various supply chain actors.

·       Discussions with regulatory teams to decide on the topics that are useful and appealing to our regulatory intelligence portal subscribers.

·       Author and produce regulatory news items for the Newsletter and social media post

·       Applies scientific writing document, and project management expertise – process management.

·       Collect and analyze examples of challenges, gaps, and failures in regulatory compliance in a specific industry/country.

·       Conduct cross-country comparative studies on specific regulatory compliance.

·       Market analysis of regulatory and compliance policies.

·       Convey complex regulatory requirements and content in a clear and structured manner

·       Creating scripts for regulatory webinars and videos

·       Content includes Website content /social media/Promotional email/Regulatory Actionable Summary/brochures

·       This Internship/dissertation project requires 30-40 hours of working hours per week.

Education/Experience Requirement [For Regulatory Interns only]

·       Applicants must be enrolled in Master studies, preferably in the final year of his/her educational program.

·  Preferably candidates with a background in Environmental science and Engineering/ Environmental Management/ Environmental Law and Policy/ Biotechnology/ Chemical Engineering/ Pharmacy/Life science/ Agricultural/Food Technology/Computer Science Engineering/Information Technology and other relevant studies.

·       Excellent writing skills, ability to summarize and convey text in a clear and structured manner

·       Experience authoring and/or editing regulatory documentation

·       Project management skills

·       Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills

·       Ability to work effectively in a team environment

·       Self-starter personality

Application Details

The application deadline is August 1, 2023.

For internship-related queries, please contact Dr. Manisha Karale (Research Program Manager) at manisha.k@in.gpcregulatory.com

Please make the application as soon as possible as the applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis.

Note: This internship will be remote.