ICCS Webinar: Applying NAMs in Practice for Skin Sensitization Assessment

January 8, 2026

In July 2025, the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) published its Best Practice Guidance (BPG) Document on Skin Sensitization Assessment, supporting the consistent and scientifically robust use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). The guidance has been widely welcomed by regulators and safety assessors as a critical step toward strengthening confidence in non-animal approaches for cosmetic ingredient safety evaluation.


As regulatory frameworks worldwide continue to advance toward animal-free safety decisions, implementation is the decisive next step. To support this transition, ICCS is convening a free, in-depth webinar focused on how the Guidance can be applied in real-world regulatory risk assessments for skin sensitization.


From guidance to practice: This session will demonstrate how defined approaches under OECD Guideline 497— including the 2 out of 3 (2o3), the Integrated Testing Strategy (ITS), and the SARA-ICE model—can be used together within practical, decision-ready risk assessment workflows.


Webinar Details

Thursday, April 9, 2026

1:00 – 4:30 PM CET

Format: Virtual | Free to Attend


Speakers and Presentations

  • Donna Macmillan, PhD – Director, Outreach & Capacity Building, ICCS
    An Introduction to the ICCS Best Practice Guidance Document on Skin Sensitization

  • Petra Kern, PhD – Senior Toxicologist/Risk Assessor, Procter & Gamble
    A Deep Dive into OECD GL 497 Defined Approaches: 2o3 and ITS

  • Georgia Reynolds, MSc – Safety Science Leader, Unilever
    Applying OECD GL 497 Defined Approaches: SARA-ICE

  • Nathalie Alépée, PhD – Research Toxicologist & Scientific Officer, L’Oréal
    The ICCS BPG on Skin Sensitization in Practice: A Case Study

 

The webinar will provide live Q&A, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers and discuss practical, regulatory-relevant questions.


Who Should Attend

This session is designed for regulatory scientists, safety assessors, and technical experts working across regulatory agencies, industry, and associated research organizations who are involved in skin sensitization assessment and the application of NAM-based evidence.


Registration is now open. Register Today


Join ICCS and leading experts to explore how NAMs can be confidently applied in regulatory practice and help support robust decision-making without the use of animals.

“Stakeholders are asking for clarity on how to practically apply NAMs in real regulatory decisions. This webinar responds directly to that need, offering hands-on insight into implementing ICCS guidance with confidence.”

Erin Hill, President & CEO, ICCS

“It was a privilege to join (and to learn from) such a dedicated group of subject-matter experts. This guidance is another important step in building confidence in the use of NAMs for regulatory decision-making, and it answers a call to action. Kudos to the ICCS for being an agent of change!”

Eric Vaillancourt, Senior Toxicologist, Health Canada

Press Release
October 16, 2025
The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) today announced that the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) has joined its global network of non-governmental, trade/research organizations, and industry partners dedicated to advancing animal-free safety assessments for cosmetics and personal care products. “We are thrilled to welcome CHPA to ICCS,” said Erin Hill, President and CEO of ICCS. “Their leadership in consumer health and dedication to regulatory science will further strengthen our collective mission to promote innovative, human- and environmentally relevant safety assessment strategies. Especially at a time in the U.S., when the Food and Drug Administration is emphasizing reliable alternatives to animal testing, ICCS and its members are united in driving collaborative, science-led approaches that advance public health protection.” Jay Sirois, PhD, Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at CHPA, said: “Joining ICCS reflects our shared commitment to modernizing safety evaluation across product categories. This collaboration will help ensure that scientific innovation and regulatory progress move hand in hand, supporting the ongoing development of safe, effective, and trusted self-care products.” The ICCS–CHPA collaboration comes at a pivotal moment following the FDA’s September 30, 2025, communication in which the Agency explicitly encouraged the development of new, reliable alternatives to animal testing for sunscreens. In response, ICCS is offering its support to help the FDA realize its plans for implementing New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in sunscreen safety assessments. ICCS aims to help ensure that the FDA’s commitment to modern, animal-free science, already demonstrated in other regulatory areas, is fully realized in the sunscreen space. ICCS’ aligned efforts focus on advancing modern, science-based approaches to safety assessment that incorporate new technologies and internationally recognized best practices. The organization also supports a consistent and transparent regulatory framework that enables the broader application of NAMs across product categories. Through continued collaboration and knowledge sharing among regulators, industry, and NGOs, ICCS works to strengthen public health protection while fostering scientific innovation and regulatory modernization. By strengthening partnerships and advancing modern scientific tools, ICCS and its members are setting the stage for lasting progress in regulatory science and public health protection. About ICCS The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety is a global initiative headquartered in New York. It brings together scientists from industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations to promote the adoption and regulatory acceptance of animal-free safety science through education, research, and collaboration. Visit www.iccs-cosmetics.org About CHPA The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), founded in 1881, is the national trade association representing the leading manufacturers and marketers of consumer healthcare products, including over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, dietary supplements, and OTC medical devices. CHPA is committed to empowering self-care by ensuring that Americans have access to products they can count on to be reliable, affordable, and convenient, while also delivering new and better ways to get and stay healthy. Visit www.chpa.org
July 21, 2025
We are pleased to announce an implementation-focused ICCS webinar. The session will provide practical, real-world application of the ICCS BPG workflow using OECD GL 497 defined approaches (2o3, ITS, and SARA-ICE). Thursday, April 9, 2026 1:00 – 4:30 PM CET Format: Virtual | Free to Attend Register Today!
Announcement
June 26, 2025
Explore the ICCS 2024 Annual Report! Dive into a year of progress in fostering regulatory collaboration, promoting harmonization, and strengthening global capacity. See how ICCS and its members contributed to advancing NAMs and NGRA—and helped shape a more modern, animal-free future.
More Posts