International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Commit to a Working Partnership to Progress Sharing of Information and Collaboration

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

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.