American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Chief Information Analyst Merle Zimmermann, Ph.D., shared AHPA's expertise during the 145th Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel Meeting on the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics. The meeting was held at the Darcy Hotel in Washington, D.C., Dec. 4-5, and included discussions of CIR safety reports in production regarding ingredients containing eucalyptus, Gingko biloba, peppermint, and witch hazel.
Dr. Zimmermann provided a detailed overview of AHPA's material on the safety of Ginkgo biloba-derived ingredients to the expert panel, sharing AHPA's analysis and feedback regarding the National Toxicology Program's (NTP) review of animal testing on a specific Ginkgo biloba leaf extract from Shanghai Xing Ling Scientific & Technology Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
"AHPA's ability to share expertise and knowledge regarding safety and history of safe use of botanical ingredients is part of our mission to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products throughout the United States marketplace," Dr. Zimmermann reported, "Participating in expert advisory panel activities with other organizations is just a part of our history of advocacy, communication, and education which AHPA has continued throughout our thirty five years of serving as the voice of the herbal products industry."
CIR was established in 1976 by the industry trade association (then the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, now the Personal Care Products Council), with the support of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. Although funded by the Council, CIR and the review process are independent from the Council and the cosmetics industry. CIR operates under a set of procedures.
The purpose of the Cosmetic Ingredient Review is to determine those cosmetic ingredients for which there is a reasonable certainty in the judgment of competent scientists that the ingredient is safe under its conditions of use. The event included renowned academicians, industry leaders, and government officials, from across the US who regularly meet to report on the safety of cosmetics ingredients.