Scientific Conference on Safety Assessment, 16 June 2023: "Safety is the Key"

An interview with Dr Andrea Weber (DGK) and Birgit Huber (IKW)
Group Interview

Training courses and seminars for cosmetics safety assessors have been running for 25 years by DGK and IKW. What can participants expect at this year's anniversary event?

Andrea Weber: For 25 years, DGK and IKW have been offering training courses for safety assessors in close cooperation. During this time, we have continuously developed the programme in order to always be able to provide participants with the latest knowledge on relevant scientific topics and legislation. We always place particular emphasis on the selection of speakers – and this also applies to the upcoming anniversary event. 

Birgit Huber: The education programme in this form is unique and important for safety assessors all over the world. That is why we also cooperate with many organisations worldwide. We are offering seminars e.g. in Poland, India, South Africa, and the USA.

Participants can look forward to a top-class international scientific conference on 16 June. In addition, we have come up with an attractive social programme that begins on the evening of 15 June and concludes on 16 June with a relaxed get-together after the conference. All this will take place in a more than extraordinary location, on the historically significant Petersberg near Bonn. 

What is the programme for the "Safety is the Key" event?

Birgit Huber: It is important to us that the anniversary event "Safety is the Key" is not only about a review of the last 25 years. Rather, the focus of the event is on presentations that reflect the current state of science and illustrative case studies in the form of successful examples from the practice of safety assessment. High-calibre experts from science and industry, alongside experts from the EU Commission, from the competent authorities and from the field of risk assessment (SCCS, CIR, BfR), will ensure that the respective topics can be viewed and discussed from different perspectives. More information is available at https://safetyassessor.info/safety-is-the-key/

A social programme, which can be booked as an option, rounds off the event. We start on 15 June in the evening with a Welcome Dinner and end the event on 16 June with a boat tour on the Rhine.

Who can register and how much does it cost to attend?

Andrea Weber: Everyone who deals with the topic of safety assessment of cosmetic products or cosmetic ingredients should attend the event. The conference event on 16 June costs 350 euros. Those who wish can attend the Welcome Dinner the evening before (cost: 90 euros) and conclude with a pleasant boat trip on the Rhine following the conference (cost: 120 euros).

Can the participants of the event have their participation credited towards their additional qualification?

Birgit Huber: Yes, participation in the conference "Safety is the Key" is valued like participation in a regular DGK/IKW seminar for safety assessors. This is particularly interesting for those safety assessors who would like to acquire the additional certificate "DGK Safety Assessor". This requires successful participation in all seven courses of the basic training cycle. In addition, participation in three seminars for safety assessors organised by DGK and IKW and their partner organisations is required. 

The training courses and seminars are offered jointly by DGK and IKW. Why has this cooperation model proven successful?

Andrea Weber: The tasks of a safety assessor are very demanding and require a variety of interdisciplinary knowledge from different disciplines, which we cover through the cooperation. By combining knowledge from research and science with regulatory expertise within the training programme for safety assessors and also including the views of the authorities, we offer participants real added value for their work as safety assessors with the course programme. 

Birgit Huber: DGK and IKW are the ideal partners for imparting this knowledge. The DGK with its expertise in scientific research and teaching in the field of cosmetics and the IKW with its expertise in topics related to cosmetics legislation and regulation complement each other in the best possible way. The high number of participants and graduates shows us that the courses and seminars are highly valued and accepted.

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