D-G Insights July 2025

August is knocking at the door, and there seems to be the slightly frantic pace of trying to finish things off before the holidays!

At this week’s CTPA Team Meeting I asked my colleagues for them to share one achievement from the first half of 2025.  That was a challenge in itself, as each member of the CTPA Team has accomplished so many things to-date this year!   I was struck by the definite theme of successful engagement with key stakeholders on crucial topics affecting our industry, effecting positive change as a trusted and knowledgeable partner. 

I’d like to thank my CTPA colleagues for their exceptional work.  I wish them, and you all, a well-deserved summer break.

pEPR

CTPA has been heavily engaged with Defra on many aspects of Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR).  One of the many asks from CTPA has been the vital importance of delaying the enforcement deadline for data requirements under pEPR, in particular for Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) classifications.  This is something CTPA specifically asked when it met with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Defra and her lead officials in May.

CTPA was therefore very pleased to welcome the recent PackUK announcement that Regulatory Position Statements (RPS) by the four home nations regarding the reporting deadline for RAM classifications.  While the legal deadline for submitting RAM data for the period of January to June 2025 remains 1 October 2025, the RPS clarify that enforcement action will not be taken provided the classifications are submitted by 1 April 2026. 

CTPA’s dynamic, solution-driven engagement with the authorities on many aspects of EPR continues.

UK REACH

Another area where CTPA has been extremely active is on UK REACH.  Again, coming to the discussions with a problem-solving perspective and advocating for regulatory cooperation between the UK and the EU, to help reduce the burden on businesses on both sides of the channel while providing regulators with assurance on chemicals safety. 

CTPA’s outreach on REACH has been significant, not only its long-term engagement with Defra, but also with the HSE, the CIA (UK Chemical Industries Association), the UK Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) on the UK/EU TCA (Trade and Cooperation Agreement) and with Cosmetics Europe, the personal care association, with whom CTPA wrote a joint letter to the EU Commission and met with DG TRADE. 

Another key ask has been for the registration deadlines, the initial date of which is October 2026, to be extended.  The recent Defra public consultation proposing to extend each of the UK REACH transitional registration submission deadlines by three years is therefore hugely significant.  CTPA will be contributing to the consultation. 

Sun Safety

One of the plenary sessions at the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) Annual Conference this year was: ‘Skin cancer rates are at an all-time high: What more can we do?’  This unnerving trend spurs CTPA’s on-going commitment to public health communications on sun with annual Sun Protection Campaigns highlighting important information to consumers about how to enjoy the sun safely.  Such messaging is so important to counter some of the irresponsible social media trends in anti-sun safety and unwarranted attacks on the safety of our sunscreens.

In my last DG Insights, I welcomed the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Beauty and Wellbeing Inquiry into the safety of UV (https://www.baw-appg.co.uk/inquiries-toolbar).  I’d encourage those with an interest in sun safety to contribute to the written evidence process.  CTPA will be submitting a response.

As part of its commitment to raising awareness, CTPA is proud to be a co-sponsor of a series of Sun Protection Scientist Workshops taking place at the Catalyst Discovery Centre in Widnes between 9–22 August.  An amazing opportunity to excite children’s interest in science and highlight the importance of sun safety.

BAD Conference

I was pleased to attend the BAD Annual Conference in July.  CTPA values its positive engagement with the dermatology community, and in particular the work of the CTPA-BSCA (British Society of Cutaneous Allergy) Working Group (WG).

This WG was established to exchange information between representatives from CTPA member companies and dermatologists from the BSCA.  As part of the wider WG’s work, it undertakes research projects to investigate the allergenic potential of certain ingredients as indicated by the BSCA.

CTPA and its members collaboratively worked with the BSCA between 2021 and 2022 on a project to investigate the uses of acrylate co-polymers in cosmetic products and their allergenic potential¹.  The CTPA-BSCA WG is now working on a project investigating anhydride copolymer in nail products.

At the 2025 BAD Annual Conference, the latest published joint work was presented: Contact Allergy to Alkyl Glucosides: A Multicentre Audit in the UK and Ireland².

The WG is such an important forum where current and arising issues, relating to both product categories and ingredients, can be discussed.

¹Soriano LF, Chowdhury MMU, Cousen P, et al. Sensitisation to the acrylate co-polymersglyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid co-polymer, sodium polyacrylate and acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate cross-polymer (Carbopol®) is rare. Contact Dermatitis. 2024;1‐6. doi:10.1111/cod.146796 SORIANO ET AL. 

²Soriano LF, Bertram CG, Chowdhury MMU, et al. Prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis to decyl and lauryl glucoside in the UK and Ireland. Br J Dermatol. 2021 Mar;184(3):571 573

Association Collaboration

Another important forum is that of the network of European Association members of Cosmetics Europe.

At the end of June, I was delighted to be invited to speak at the German trade association, IKW, regulatory conference to talk about the UK regulatory landscape for cosmetic products.  The EU is still our biggest trading partner, for both export and import, and Germany is an important market.

My thanks to Birgit Huber, and all the team at IKW, for their welcome and hospitality. 

 

 

 

CTPA at ICCR

From EU collaboration to global cooperation… 
I was delighted to represent CTPA, together with my colleague Nico Shaw Núñez, Director of Regulation, at the 19th meeting of ICCR (International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation) in Ottawa on 8-10 July.  ICCR is an organisation that brings together the cosmetics industry and its regulatory bodies from across the world, offering an opportunity to discuss key topics and areas of common concern. 

The 2025 cycle, ICCR-19, was co-hosted by Health Canada | Santé Canada and Cosmetics Alliance Canada.  ICCR delegates were treated to a very warm and hospitable welcome to Ottawa for the face-to-face meetings.  I am truly grateful to Nibal Saikali and Health Canada | Santé Canada, Darren Praznik and Beta Montemayor of Cosmetics Alliance Canada and all their colleagues for their generosity in hosting such a successful and positive meeting.

The UK is an Observer member of ICCR.  Nico and I were very pleased to attend the ICCR-19 meetings alongside our regulators from OPSS (the Office for Product Safety and Standards).  CTPA readily supports the UK Government’s intention to apply for full membership of ICCR in the coming years.

While a successful ICCR meeting, it was tinged with a little sadness as we bade a fond farewell to Francine Lamoriello, Executive Vice President Global Strategies at the US Personal Care Products Council (PCPC). Francine is leaving PCPC at the end of July to explore new challenges. Francine has been instrumental in driving the Mission of ICCR forward and has been involved from its inception, as acknowledged by all attendees.

We now look forward to the 20th Anniversary of ICCR in 2026, with this special cycle being hosted by Japan.

A Fond Farewell – Jana Mona

After 15 years at CTPA, and very careful consideration, Jana has decided it is time to move on from the Association to explore pastures and opportunities anew.  Jana will be leaving at the end of August.  Jana has significantly contributed to the sound financial running of CTPA.

I would like to wish Jana all the very best in her new career and thank her for all her support, hard work and valuable expertise over the years.

You can read more of Jana’s achievements at CTPA here.

Congratulations to new CTPA Senior Affairs Managers

I am delighted to announce that Christine Lawson, Francesca Rapolla and Johanna Irigaray have been promoted to the role of Senior Affairs Manager.  

The new role of Senior Affairs Manager acknowledges and represents the contribution of individuals to the delivery of CTPA’s strategic vision within their areas, and a greater external visibility as CTPA’s expert.

I am sure you will want to join me in congratulating Christine (Senior Affairs Manager, Sustainability), Francesca (Senior Affairs Manager, Science) and Johanna (Senior Affairs Manager, International) on their well-deserved promotions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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