IFRA Standards Library
IFRA
Standards Library
A collaborative approach to allergen safety
Since 2013, IDEA has run a rolling work-plan of research, expert workshops and public reporting. Under independent supervision, it has refined quantitative risk assessment tools, promoted non-animal testing, and set transparent benchmarks that now guide safety decisions across Europe and beyond
How IDEA works
IDEA is governed by an Independent Supervisory Group of academic toxicologists who set the agenda, review progress and publish annual reports.
Through open, multi-stakeholder workshops, the project builds consensus on three pillars:
Hazard characterisation – creation of the Reference Chemical Potency List, giving agreed potency bands for 106 established fragrance allergens.
Exposure assessment – development of the refined Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA2) model that combines consumer habits data with product-specific dermal exposure.
Validation & monitoring – Europe-wide clinical surveillance studies that track real-world trends in contact allergy and feed those findings back into safety limits.
Outputs are published free of charge, allowing authorities and companies to apply a common scientific yardstick when formulating, regulating or reformulating fragranced goods
“IDEA is an established, successful multi-stakeholder initiative that propels the development of high-quality safety-assessment tools. We need reliable risk assessments based on a profound understanding of hazard and exposure.”
— Professor Jim Bridges, Chair, IDEA Supervisory Group
10 February 2026
News
IFRA’s Matthias Vey to speak at IFRA UK seminar on skin sensitisers
Matthias Vey, Vice President of Scientific Affairs for IFRA will be speaking at the IFRA UK Sensitisers Seminar, taking place in London on 7 May 2026.
06 February 2026
News
IFRA presents on fragrance safety standards at VUB Brussels
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) recently contributed to the “Safety Assessment of Cosmetic Products in the EU” course at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), focusing on the practicalities of fragrance safety.
04 February 2026
News
IFRA publishes Annual Report 2025 highlighting global engagement, regulatory progress and sustainability leadership
Geneva, 4 February 2026 – The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) has published its Annual Report 2025, marking a year defined by global connection, scientific progress and strengthened engagement with regulators, members and stakeholders worldwide.