At its fourth annual meeting July 13-15 in Toronto, members of the International Cooperation for Cosmetics Regulation endorsed a working definition for nanotechnology in cosmetics.

Regulatory authorities from the U.S., EU, Japan and Canada, as well as industry groups in attendance, heard from technology experts from member countries and "looked at all of the different [nanotechnology] definitions and the issues that relate to cosmetics," Francine Lamoriello, executive VP of global strategies for the Personal Care Products Council, told "The Rose Sheet" July 28.

They then "developed what they would recommend as the most useful and relevant definition for purposes of any current or future regulation," Lamoriello said.

She noted that "it's important for our industry around the world to have some sense of a common definition and we're hoping that this will be a step forward in that direction."

A report will be published online by each member's regulatory body. An FDA spokesman said the agency does not yet have a target date for the report's release.

According to Lamoriello, another highlight of the ICCR meeting was progress made in the group's discussion of trace contaminants in personal-care products.

ICCR members received an update on recommended maximum lead contamination levels in cosmetics. They did not reach a consensus on safe tolerance levels but will continue to explore the issue in subsequent meetings, the exec said.

Also at the meeting, regulators shared views on how to approach sunscreen regulation.

Matthew Holman, a scientist in FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, noted during a public preparatory meeting in July that FDA would discuss its long-awaited sunscreen monograph with other ICCR members and take into account the impact it would have internationally (¹ Also see "FDA Seeks International Input On Sunscreen Monograph" - HBW Insight, 12 July, 2010.).

The agency's final sunscreen rule is expected to be released in the fall.

Labeling, Consumer Involvement Considered

ICCR members identified areas of labeling "misalignment" between the countries - specifically, inconsistencies in requirements for small packaging, declaration of net quantity of contents and net content and warnings on aerosol products.

Industry intends to use future ICCR meetings to propose alternative labeling methods such as electronic labeling, which would "bring more information to consumers and get beyond the barriers of physical labels on packaging," Lamoriello said.

During the public meeting held in the U.S. prior to the event, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics urged ICCR participants to consider including personal-care stakeholders besides industry representatives at its meetings down the road.

ICCR regulators decided in Toronto to develop criteria that will allow other interested parties to submit proposals and comments for ICCR consideration.

Also at the meeting, the group considered animal testing alternatives and opted to continue "to coordinate and to endorse" activities of the International Cooperation on Alternative Test Methods.

Furthermore, regulators drafted a standard operating procedure for its working groups, expected to be adopted in "the near future."

The next ICCR meeting will be held in Europe in 2011.

- Lauren Nardella ( ² l.nardella@elsevier.com )

International Regulators Endorse Definition For Nanotech In Cosmetics

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