Earlier I reported that the FDA had recently shown some intense interest, per its recent draft guidance document, in the safety of food and food packaging products containing nanomaterials. In contrast, the FDA seemed to merely urged caution to the cosmetics industry about nanoparticles in their products. Now, however, the FDA appears to be on the move toward giving nanomaterials in cosmetics their fair amount of attention.
In July, the FDA will host the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation (ICCR), which is expected to include cosmetics regulators fromCanada, the EU,Japan,Brazil,China,Australia, and other countries. The conference is scheduled to include opportunities for participation by the industry and any other interested parties. Nanomaterials represent only one item on the agenda (which includes alternatives to animal studies and regulation of trace elements of substances such as lead).
The conference’s interest in nanoparticles in cosmetics will be focused on methods to characterize nanoparticle ingredients with safety in mind. The primary interest is in the use of nanoscale titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in sunscreen products.
T he upside to the attention FDA is giving to nanoparticles in cosmetics is that it begins a long process of deciding how to determine safety, whether to regulate, and whether new regulations for nanoparticles in sunscreens and other cosmetics will be necessary. Recently, the FDA postponed the effective date of new labeling for sunscreens until after the current summer season. Perhaps information learned about nanosubstances in sunscreens will make its way onto those new labels, or at least some version of the labels in the future.
Another upside is the use of an international forum including not just regulators, but industry attendees and others to identify the issues raised by nanoparticles in cosmetics. A theme of this blog has been the need for a “same-page” approach in the international commercial arena.
The downside is the long slog of regulatory information gathering and activity – and sometimes inactivity. And it is altogether possible that the various jurisdictions will go their own ways in approaching the subject.
After the ICCR meets in July, I will report on the proceedings. For access to the official announcement of the conference, and for information from the FDA on previous ICCR conferences, reports, and other materials, see
