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Training Course : Safety Assessment of Cosmetics in the EU by VUB

4 – 9 FEBRUARY 2019 • 6 ECTS • BRUSSELS • BELGIUM

Objectives of the training course

Safety of cosmetics is a key issue in the EU.

Until July 2013, Directive 76/768/EEC and its 6th and 7th Amendment applied. They were implemented in the different national laws of the Member States which was a rather slow process and not always perfect. The Directive is replaced now by Regulation EC 1223/2009 which is instantly and directly enforced across the EU. Main drivers are codification, streamlining and simplifying to obtain a better harmonization between the 28 Member States.

The same basic principles, however, remain the same. Thus a cosmetic product on the EU market must be safe and one must be in the position to demonstrate this safety and to provide adequate information to the Authorities as well as to the consumers. Safety of cosmetics and their ingredients is guaranteed through safety assessment and for that purpose a unique dossier (Product Information File) need to be composed. It must be judged by a qualified professional, in possession of a diploma or other evidence of formal qualifications awarded on completion of a university course of theoretical and practical study in pharmacy, toxicology, medicine or a similar discipline, or a course recognized as equivalent by a Member State (Art. 10.2).

Several reasons can be given that urge potential safety assessors of cosmetics to follow additional specific academic training in safety evaluation of cosmetics. Reasons include the unadapted traditional lesson packets of the diplomas mentioned in the EU Regulation, the difficulties generated by moving from in vivo to in vitro testing in safety assessment of cosmetic ingredients and finished products, the special needs for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the important tasks of the Responsible Person, the growing awareness of the consumer and the changing role of raw material suppliers for cosmetics. This course, therefore, offers an intensive training programme designed for safety assessors of cosmetics in the EU. It is also open to raw material suppliers, Responsible Persons, SMEs, contract laboratories, inspectors and legislators.