Dr. Willis is Exponent’s lead contact for the EU chemicals policy REACH. He is particularly experienced in helping companies prepare for the new legislation, including the use of risk ranking analysis to determine what major risks may affect a company’s ability to comply with their obligations under REACH, and using the results from this analysis to help companies determine what their immediate, medium-term, and long-term priorities and actions should be. He has also provided regulatory strategy and advice to chemical manufacturers and metal trade associations, as well as companies in the pulp and paper products and agrochemical industries. Dr. Willis is also responsible for the management of projects supporting the registration of agrochemicals and biocides and has provided regulatory strategy and advice for the registration of agrochemicals.
Dr. Willis has over 8 years experience of pesticide regulation in the EU. He has comprehensive knowledge and experience of the processes and procedures required for the registration of plant protection products at EU and Member State level together with procedures under national legislation in the UK. He has particular experience of the requirements for the re-registration of plant protection products following their inclusion on Annex I of EC Directive 91/414/EEC. Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Willis worked at the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), the UK regulatory authority for plant protection products, for 7 years. His role was as a project manager, coordinating the evaluation of applications for the registration of plant protection products. He also provided expert advice to colleagues in policy branches, agrochemical companies, and other external organizations regarding the national and European regulatory controls and registration procedures for pesticides and adjuvants.
Willis AD, Mortimer AM, Putwain PD, Moss SR. Variations in cross-resistance in blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides) within and between populations: Implications for management. Proceedings, Brighton Crop Protection Conference: Weeds, Vol. 2, pp. 675–676, Brighton, UK, November 17–20, 1997.
Willis AD. The genetic basis for herbicide cross resistance in Alopecurus myosuroides Hudson. Ph.D. Thesis, 1990.
Posters
Willis AD, Putwain PD, Mortimer AM, Moss SR. Half-sib analysis of the genetic basis for graminicide resistance in blackgrass, Alopecurus myosuroides (Huds.) in the UK. Resistance 97, Rothamsted Research Station, 1997.
Provision of regulatory strategy and advice to chemical manufacturers and users on the EU chemicals policy REACH. Assistance to companies in their preparation for REACH by the provision of advice and contribution to prioritisation of companies’ actions using risk ranking analysis. Management of projects on REACH.
Management of projects for the generation and development of Annex II and III dossiers for agricultural and non-agricultural pesticides. Co-ordination of data gap analyses, study monitoring, documentation preparation, and provision of regulatory advice. Contribution to problem solving when necessary.
Project management of the evaluation of applications for the registration of agricultural and non-agricultural pesticides under The Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR). Liaison between applicant agrochemical companies and specialist scientific experts within PSD, summarising and completion of scientific evaluations, making recommendations to Ministers and other Government departments and issuing of legal documentation.
Acted as the lead point of contact in the UK regulatory authority for the re-registration of plant protection products under EC Directive 91/414/EEC. This included provision of advice to applicants on all aspects of re-registration and the development of policies and procedures and guidance documents.
Report writer at EU ECCO Overview meetings convened to discuss four active substances (new and existing).
Laboratory research work to investigate the genetic basis for herbicide resistance in blackgrass (
Alopecurus myosuroides Huds.).