EFfCI Annual Conference Report 
The European Federation for Cosmetic Ingredients (EFfCI) held its Annual Conference on September 25th and 26th at the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel in Brussels, Belgium. This year, the event focused on the theme of “The Centrality, Dignity, and Safeguarding of Cosmetic Ingredients”, highlighting the crucial role and central importance of cosmetic ingredients within the cosmetics industry.

The conference is renowned for bringing together leading stakeholders from across the cosmetics ingredients sector and beyond, reflecting EFfCI’s commitment to fostering discussions, exchanging ideas, and promoting collaboration on the most pressing topics facing the industry today.

TKS Publisher had the honour of being present at the event as the official media partner on behalf of the HPC-Today Journal. This partnership marked the beginning of a promising collaboration between TKS and EFfCI, with plans to strengthen and expand it in the coming years.

The first day of the conference was dedicated exclusively to EFfCI members. This closed session allowed members to engage in strategic discussions across various working groups, including GMP, Toxicology, Colorants, Polymers, Preservatives, RAPS, International Relations, and INO. Each group presented updates, progress, and future strategies, fostering an environment of focused collaboration. The day ended on a high note with a delightful dinner at a traditional Brussels pub—an evening filled with good food, great conversations, and a warm atmosphere to wrap up a productive day.

For the second year, the conference’s second day opened its doors to stakeholders. EFfCI President Giacomo Santus and Secretary-General Andrea Maltagliati began the day with welcoming remarks, setting the tone for a day of engaging discussions and presentations.

The first lecture was delivered by a representative from the EU Commission, followed by presentations from notable international organizations such as the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS), Cosmetics Europe, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), and China’s National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC). The last two insights came from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC).

The second day has been officially named World Cosmetic Ingredient Day (WCI-Day)—a celebration of the vital role that cosmetic ingredients play in shaping the beauty and personal care industry. It included an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions to the field. Here are the three winners: 1st place went to INGRECOS – the French Syndicate for Cosmetic Ingredients, 2nd place to HCI – the Helvetic Association for Cosmetic Ingredients, and 3rd place to AEIC – the Spanish Association of Cosmetic Ingredients.

The conference concluded with a dynamic roundtable discussion titled “The Four Musketeers: One for All and All for One”, which brought together key representatives from the cosmetics industry’s closest stakeholders, including Cosmetics Europe, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), Cosmetics Alliance Canada, and the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). This discussion emphasized the importance of global cooperation in the cosmetics sector, addressing current challenges and future opportunities.

The EFfCI Annual Conference successfully underscored the critical role of collaboration, safety, and innovation in the cosmetics ingredients industry, fostering dialogue between companies, regulatory bodies, and researchers from around the world.

With exciting developments expected within EFfCI over the coming year, we look forward to supporting these changes and being part of the journey.

The next EFfCI Annual Conference is scheduled to take place in Genoa on October 1st and 2nd, 2025. It will be a highly significant event, the 25th edition, and for this reason, a special program and exclusive venues have been planned to celebrate also another important milestone for EFfCI: the 20th anniversary of the GMP guidelines. In the coming weeks, more updates will be shared through EFfCI LinkedIn profile, and the Sponsorship program is currently open for registrations.

Monica Nizzardo
Editorial Manager TKS