On March 19, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit provided much needed clarity regarding the definition of independent research and development (IR&D) costs, an issue of first impression in the Federal Circuit.

On February 24, the Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for the international trade of hazardous chemicals and pesticides entered into force. The Convention had already been transposed in the Community legal order by Regulation 304/2003 of January 28, 2003 concerning the export and import of dangerous chemicals.

The following are discussed within this article: Chemicals; Pesticides/Biocides; Life Sciences; Food; Environment General Issues; Energy; Social Affairs/Worker Safety and Institutional Issues

The U.S. Supreme Court has pointed out consistently in recent years that the relatively new construct of "class arbitration" is very different from your uncle's classic bilateral arbitration.