Kao joins new international collaboration for an animal-free science worldwide

Global collaboration of cosmetics and chemicals industry experts will work together with animal protection NGOs to accelerate widespread use of animal-free safety science through research, education and regulatory engagement
 
Kao and more than 35 cosmetics manufacturers and suppliers, industry associations and animal protection organizations announced the launch of the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) to ensure animal-free methods are accepted and used by everyone involved in cosmetics safety testing. ICCS will support animal-free cosmetics and personal care product and ingredient innovation by funding rigorous, scientific evaluation of new animal-free safety assessment approaches. It will share the results of these evaluation activities with cosmetic and chemical regulators and fund education and training activities to help build confidence in animal-free safety assessment approaches. 

ICCS will collaborate with existing organizations to:
·        Evaluate and further develop animal-free safety assessment approaches and demonstrate their scientific validity for human health and environmental protection.  
·        Share the results of these evaluation activities with regulators to inform ongoing regulatory acceptance discussions around the world.
·        Provide education and training materials to accelerate widespread adoption of the latest animal-free safety science.
 
Through these efforts, ICCS is working to enable animal-free methods for cosmetics product and ingredient innovation globally. The cosmetics and personal care industry and animal protection organizations have been at the forefront of developing, evaluating and using animal-free safety assessment approaches for nearly 40
years. This includes significant contributions to the replacement of regulatory animal testing to address skin irritation, genetic toxicology, eye irritation and skin sensitization through innovative in silico and in vitro methodologies.
 
“At Kao, we have been actively working with industry associations and relevant third parties to find robust alternatives to animal testing since the 1980s, way before the official EU ban on animal testing for
cosmetics came into effect”, says Javier Avalos, Director Microbiology, Regulatory & Safety, AmRL, who leads the Kao efforts at ICCS. “We are excited to continue this work with the strong partners of the ICCS to further advance animal-free safety assessment approaches and drive global adoption and consistency,” adds Rolf Fautz, Director Safety & Regulation, EuRL, who is co-representative of Kao in the ICCS Steering Board.
 
Today, while research and animal-free science methods have progressed, many policies and regulations still require animal test data and have not yet incorporated the rapid progress in applying innovative, animal-free science to safety assessment. This drives a need for animal data even where viable alternatives exist. ICCS aims to close this gap by understanding regulatory needs and supplying sound scientific solutions based on innovative animal-free approaches.  
 
For more details on ICCS and its members, visit www.iccs-cosmetics.org.