Last week, the UK’s Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) held an expert seminar dedicated to demonstrating the safety of chemicals without relying on animal testing. The seminar brought together expert cosmetic scientists, animal-free test providers, NGOs, universities and UK government regulators to discuss and analyze real-world case studies and future opportunities in the field.
Animal testing of cosmetic products and ingredients has been banned in the EU since 2013 under EU regulation 1223/2009 on cosmetics, following the initial ban on testing finished products in 2004 and ingredients in 2009. Despite this, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) REACH Regulation 1907/2006 sometimes still required data on animals, particularly in cases such as environmental impact and worker safety.
Since the EU ban, however, new approach methodologies (NAMs) have progressed rapidly in the field of cosmetic safety assessment and the industry is now determined to push for wider acceptance of these methods, at all points. endings tested for safety or risk.
Next generation animal-free security analysis
Last month, Cosmetics Europe and a number of industry scientists from Beiersdorf, L’Oréal, Procter & Gamble and Unilever released a study outlining a “Practical and structured”10-step framework for animal-free safety analysis. The framework combined read-across assessment approaches (RAX) and novel approach methodologies (NAM) to provide an exposure-based and evidence-based approach for next generation risk assessment in cosmetics. Cosmetics Europe also unveiled its new science program last year, designed to guide and shape the worldwide adoption and regulatory acceptance of non-animal-tested alternatives in cosmetics.
The CTPA’s recent inaugural expert workshop was designed to create a “Neutral forum”For NAM experts to hold an open and constructive discussion, building a foundation for future work, said the association’s director general, Dr Emma Meredith.
The goal, Meredith said, was to create a “Catalyst for an open discussion”And continue efforts in NAMs in the UK, the EU and around the world.
The CTPA said its members and the UK cosmetics industry in general wanted to do this “everything possible to promote the use of NAMs as scientifically sound alternatives to animal testing”.
He said this was particularly relevant as the UK set up its own independent chemicals regulatory system. “The UK cosmetics industry is seizing this opportunity; showing how NAMs can be at the heart of innovative chemical laws using cutting-edge scientific techniques to protect health and the environment “,he said.
“Common” and “collaboration” objectives
Professor Alan Boobis OBE, Emeritus Professor of Toxicology at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, said: “We have reached a stage where there is a real opportunity for NAMs to transform chemical risk assessment, but that will only happen if all stakeholders work together on a common goal.”
Dr Fiona Sewell, Head of Toxicology at the National Center for Animal Replacement, Refining and Reduction in Research (NC3R), agreed: “The new approach methodologies offer great opportunities to improve the predictivity of safety assessments while reducing the dependence on the use of animals in toxicity tests.”
“It is essential to continue to collaborate and work together, focusing on advancing these methodologies by implementing the 3Rs [replacement, refinement, reduction]as well as maximizing its impact through wider dissemination to other sectors and other chemicals legislation “, he said.
“We can take the cosmetic safety assessment as a good example where animal testing has already been replaced. “
Cosmetics have “pioneered” the use of NAMs
Dr Carl Westmoreland, director of science and technology at Unilever’s Safety & Environmental Assurance Center (SEAC), agreed and said that animal-free cosmetics safety tests on ingredients have been “Now routine”Given the EU ban of over 10 years in force; efforts now had to move to expanding use and application.
“The cosmetics industry has pioneered the use of NAMs and next-generation risk assessment for safety. This same modern science can be translated into ensuring the safety of workers and the environment, and the cosmetics industry wants to share our science to accelerate the acceptance of NAMs in other areas of regulatory security. “Westmoreland said.