IKW and DGK cooperate on training for safety assessors with International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety and Cosmetics Europe

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June 16, 2023

Frankfurt am Main, 16 June 2023. Always up to date in cosmetics safety: DGK (German Society for Scientific and Applied Cosmetics) and IKW (Industrial Association for Personal Care and Detergents) are expanding the training programme for cosmetics safety assessors with new courses on alternative (non-animal) assessment strategies and test methods for cosmetics as well as on background aspects and strategies for environmental assessments of cosmetic ingredients. The new courses are developed with scientific expertise by the newly formed International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS). Cosmetics Europe (CE) provides support and advice in relation to cosmetics. Qualified experts from all over the world will present the modules.

With the new training offer, DGK and IKW remain consistently true to their strategy of continuously developing the training programme for cosmetics safety assessors that has been offered for 25 years - always with the aim of supporting the safety assessors in their demanding task. In addition to the existing course cycle, which consists of seven training courses and various seminars, the new modules will complement the existing programme after their release in the autumn.

The new module “8” will be mandatory for safety assessors and is based on alternative test methods to animal testing and new assessment strategies for the safety of cosmetic ingredients. In the past, knowledge on alternative test methods was already imparted in seminars and courses. However, in the daily work of safety assessors, non-animal approaches are becoming more and more important. Experts from ICCS will provide expert and practical instructions for this module.

Another optional course is dedicated to strategies for assessing the potential impact of cosmetic products and their ingredients on the environment. As environmental issues are becoming increasingly important, experts from ICCS and CE will offer scientific basics and facts on this topic in a separate seminar starting in autumn.

Participants in the anniversary event "Safety is the Key", which will take place on 15 June and 16 June 2023 on the Petersberg near Bonn, will get a foretaste of the new course offer. In addition to many international and top-class experts, Erin H. Hill, President and CEO of ICCS, will report on "The Non- Animal Strategy for Cosmetic Ingredients" at the science conference.

More information on the training programme for safety assessors is available at https://safetyassessor.info/

About Cosmetics Europe

Cosmetics Europe is the European trade association for the cosmetics and personal care industry. For 60 years, Cosmetics Europe has been the voice of the cosmetics and personal care industry in Europe. Our members include cosmetics and personal care manufacturers as well as associations representing our industry at national level, right across Europe. For more information, please consult Cosmetics Europe website.

About DGK

The German Society for Applied and Scientific Cosmetics (Deutsche Gesellschaft für angewandte und wissenschaftliche Kosmetik) has been a registered non-profit association since 1957, dedicated to science, education, and cosmetic research.

Various specialized and working groups continuously engage with topics related to modern cosmetic research and regularly conduct educational seminars.

About ICCS

The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) is a global initiative focused on advancing the adoption of animal-free safety assessment approaches for cosmetics, personal care products and their ingredients. ICCS brings together scientists and experts from cosmetics manufacturers and suppliers, industry associations, and animal protection organizations to drive greater global awareness to accelerate widespread use of animal-free science through research, education, and regulatory engagement. https://www.iccs-cosmetics.org/

About IKW

The German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association, with headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, was founded in 1968. It represents the interests of more than 440 companies from the fields of beauty and home care on a national and European level. The industry generates sales revenues of more than EUR 19 billion and employs a workforce of approximately 50,000 people. The member companies cover approximately 95 % of the market.

IKW is the contact partner for its member companies, ministries, public authorities, consumers, institutions and associations as well as for the media as far as scientific, regulatory or business topics are concerned. Experts of the competence partners Beauty Care and Home Care within IKW provide competent answers on questions concerning skin and hair care, beauty and self-esteem as well as hygiene and cleaning. More information on www.ikw.org.

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Consumer Healthcare Products Association Joins the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety

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

ICCS Debuts Best Practice Guidance Series Focus on Skin Sensitization Without Animal Testing

July 21, 2025

The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) announces its first-ever Best Practice Guidance (BPG): “Skin Sensitization Assessment: Using New Approach Methods for Substances in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products.” This document marks the inaugural publication in a new series of ICCS Best Practice Guidance documents, developed to support the global transition to animal-free safety science. ICCS was invited to present the BPG at the Integrated Strategies for Safety Assessment of Cosmetics Joint Regulators-Industry Workshop hosted by the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation (ICCR) on July 11, where regulators from more than 12 countries convened to advance non-animal methodologies. “This guidance reflects the collective expertise of ICCS members who came together to align on the development of this unique guidance,” said Erin Hill, President & CEO of ICCS. “It’s a key example of our mission to build global capacity and accelerate the uptake of animal-free safety assessments. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the ICCR to hear their input on the workflow in the document.” Grounded in Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) principles, the BPG offers a structured, science-based workflow that includes practical steps from problem formulation, exposure assessment, data evaluation, to transparent decision-making. It is especially suited for safety assessors experienced in traditional methods but new to using NAMs. What Makes the ICCS BPG Unique This BPG builds on existing international frameworks—such as OECD test guidelines and ICCR principles—by integrating them into a cohesive, assessor-friendly workflow. It emphasizes practical use and real-world safety scenarios and is specifically designed for regulatory safety assessments of cosmetics and personal care products. Notably, the guidance provides tools for transparent decision-making, uncertainty characterization, and exposure-based waiving, offering assessors clear and pragmatic support for transitioning to animal-free science. Key Highlights of the BPG: Step-by-step workflow to guide assessors through skin sensitization hazard and safety assessments without new animal tests. Integration of in silico, in chemico, and in vitro methods, including those aligned with OECD Test Guidelines. Designed for regulatory use, especially for assessors transitioning from animal to non-animal approaches. The full guidance is now freely available for download on the ICCS Website . Looking Ahead The Skin Sensitization BPG is the first in a planned suite of ICCS Best Practice Guidance documents. Forthcoming documents planned are: eye and skin irritation, read-across, thresholds of toxicological concern (TTC), physiologically based kinetic (PBK) modeling, exposure-based waiving, and environmental safety endpoints. These guidance documents will continue to support ICCS’ goal of equipping the international community with practical tools for modern, human-relevant, and animal-free safety assessments.

ICCS 2024 Annual Report

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.