Follow the science

IFRA promotes an approach whereby science and data remain at the heart of decision-making. This science and data do exist and can be relied upon for their robustness and methodological acceptance. 

This is to say: the management of chemicals can, and should, always be informed by a comprehensive understanding of substances’ intended usage and potential exposure.

This is particularly important for fragrances, which represent a relatively small element in the consumer product and in itself are composed of many single ingredients. Many fragrance ingredients, both synthetic and natural, which originally may be constituents of plants such as rose, lavender and jasmine, and are widely used in perfumery, cosmetics, or personal care products, could be banned or severely restricted with the implementation of an approach, that does not take exposure into consideration. 

A more refined use of regulatory tools is needed, to address hazards and prevent undesired cascading effects on consumer uses and industries efficiently and appropriately. 

Legislators should continue to design legislation that takes into account both hazard and exposure, recognizing that not all substances pose equal risks under normal conditions of use. 

By adopting an exposure-based risk assessment approach, regulators can focus resources on addressing significant risks while avoiding unnecessary restrictions on safely used ingredients and formulations.