Latest updates

The new regulation creates a stand-alone legal framework for ECHA and incorporates the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) into the agency

The European Commission has confirmed it will not pursue a full legislative overhaul of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), a decision IFRA welcomes as providing much needed certainty for the fragrance industry.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) adopted an Opinion at its 77^th Plenary meeting, held in June 2026, classifying l‑Carvone (EC 229−352−5, CAS 6485−40−1) and spearmint oil (EC -, CAS 8008−79−5) as Toxic for Reproduction Category 2 (Repr. 2; H361d).

Animal-free Chemical Safety Assessment and Roadmap Implementation Conference 1 – 3 June 2026.

European Commission roadmap towards phasing out animal testing in chemical safety assessment has been published.

Brussels, 17 June 2026 – The cosmetics, fragrance and essential oils industries welcome the provisional interinstitutional agreement reached today on the Omnibus VI proposal.

The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) welcomes the roadmap presented today by the European Commission to phase out animal testing for chemical safety assessments – a milestone for innovation, animal welfare, and modern, human-relevant safety science.

The recent incorporation of maximum acceptable concentrations (MAC) for AVO (Acetylated Vetiver Oil) and Citral in the Annex III of the EU Cosmetic Regulation represent important achievements in IFRA’s ongoing engagement in ingredient defence.

Event highlights latest insights on skin sensitisation, fragrance allergy and risk assessment

The report from the 2024 European Partnership for Alternative Approaches (EPAA) Partners’ Forum on endocrine disruption within European Union regulatory frameworks has been accepted for publication in NAM Journal.

Brussels, 29 April 2026 – Cosmetics Europe and the International Fragrance Association welcome the swift adoption of the European Parliament’s report on Omnibus VI at today’s plenary session in Strasbourg. Over recent months, the European Parliament has thoroughly examined the European Commission’s proposal to reduce administrative burdens, and boost competitiveness, with detailed scrutiny of the consumer safety provisions, which remain robust.

In early April, IFRA met with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to review one of its long-term sustainability projects, centred on Buchu.