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 took place on 15 June and 16 June 2023 on the Petersberg near Bonn, already got a foretaste of the new course offer. In addition to many international and top-class experts, Erin H. Hill, President and CEO of ICCS, reported 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