Canada Hosts World Cosmetic Regulators at ICCR-13 in Montreal

Hosted by Health Canada and Cosmetics Alliance Canada, the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation (or “ICCR”), held its 13th annual session in Montreal, Canada from July 9th to 12th. ICCR is an initiative of cosmetic regulators from around the world and works to coordinate and align the regulation of cosmetics on an international basis. The goal is to ensure the highest level of global consumer protection, while minimizing barriers to international trade.

Member jurisdictions include the European Union, United States, Canada, Japan and Brazil with Colombia, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand participating as observers. Collectively, these countries represent about 60% of the world’s cosmetics market!

ICCR technical recommendations often become the international standard and are used by other regulators around the globe. In addition to holding their own sessions as regulators, ICCR regulators spend part of a day with industry as a key stakeholder to discuss the progress of the various joint technical working groups. Time is also alloted for regulators to meet with other interested stakeholders which this year included the Sharkwater Foundation and Humane Society International.

As industry co-host for ICCR-13, Cosmetics Alliance Canada chaired the ICCR Industry Steering Committee, which coordinates industry participation in ICCR and the joint working groups, as well as provides support and secretariat services during the course of our term.

The annual ICCR meetings rotate between the five member jurisdictions.