The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety begins a new phase with the appointment of its 2026 Board officers, reinforcing its global commitment to advancing animal‑free approaches in cosmetics safety science as regulatory and scientific landscapes rapidly evolve.
The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) has confirmed its Board officers for 2026, following elections held during the organization’s December 2025 Board meeting. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the relatively young global initiative, which continues to position itself at the forefront of efforts to replace animal testing in cosmetics safety assessment with scientifically robust, human-relevant alternatives. The newly elected leadership reflects both continuity and growing maturity within ICCS, as the organization builds on a year of substantial progress and looks ahead to expanding its impact across regulatory, scientific, and industry communities worldwide.
ICCS operates at the nexus of science, policy, and cooperative action, uniting varied stakeholders who pursue the shared goal of advancing the worldwide shift toward animal-free safety science for cosmetics and their ingredients. The confirmation of the 2026 Board officers highlights the organization’s commitment to preserving strategic direction as it navigates an increasingly intricate global landscape, where expectations surrounding ethical research, scientific precision, and regulatory coherence continue to advance.
Continued leadership stability and expansive global representation
The 2026 Board leadership unites senior leaders from the cosmetics, consumer goods, and regulatory advocacy fields, capturing the multi-stakeholder character that has shaped ICCS from the start. Stéphane Dhalluin, Ph.D., DABT, Global Head of Human & Environmental Safety Evaluation at L’Oréal, has been chosen again to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors. His renewed appointment reflects sustained trust in a leadership style grounded in scientific rigor, international collaboration, and productive dialogue with regulatory authorities.
Serving alongside him as Vice Chair is Darren Praznik, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cosmetics Alliance Canada, whose experience in industry representation and regulatory dialogue adds a valuable regional and policy-oriented perspective. The role of Secretary will be held by Heike Scheffler, Ph.D., Safety Advocacy and Regulatory Toxicology Director for Global Product Stewardship in Beauty and Oral Care at Procter & Gamble, bringing deep expertise in regulatory toxicology and global product safety frameworks. Michael Southall, Ph.D., Senior Director and Head of Global Toxicology and Clinical Safety within Medical Clinical & Safety Sciences at Kenvue, has been elected Treasurer, contributing extensive experience in toxicology leadership and governance.
Acting collectively, the officers form a Board leadership team whose broad background spans multinational corporations, industry associations, and regulatory science, reinforcing ICCS’ position as a neutral platform for collaboration rather than a champion of any specific industry. This balance supports the organization’s credibility, particularly as it seeks to influence regulatory thinking and encourage convergence around animal-free safety methodologies.
Advancing animal-free science through collaboration
At the core of ICCS’ mission lies the conviction that animal-free safety assessment methods, when rigorously designed and validated, are not only ethically favorable but also scientifically stronger. Since its establishment in early 2023, ICCS has sought to show that non-animal approaches can deliver dependable, relevant insights to safeguard both human well-being and the environment. The confirmation of the 2026 Board officers arrives at a time when this message is gaining momentum, bolstered by concrete achievements and increasing involvement from regulators worldwide.
Throughout 2025, ICCS rolled out multiple initiatives that strengthened its scientific foundation while extending its overall impact. Among these, it released a Best Practice Guidance document designed to bring greater clarity and consistency to the application of animal‑free safety assessment approaches. This resource aimed to bridge the divide between scientific advances and regulatory expectations, offering a practical tool that stakeholders could rely on when producing or evaluating non‑animal data.
In parallel, ICCS supported the development of new methodologies aligned with next generation risk assessment (NGRA), an evolving paradigm that integrates advanced in vitro, in silico, and exposure-based approaches. These methodologies are increasingly viewed as essential to modern toxicology, offering the potential for more human-relevant insights while reducing reliance on animal testing. ICCS’ involvement in this space reflects its commitment to advancing not only ethical outcomes but also scientific excellence.
Equally important has been the organization’s emphasis on dialogue. Throughout 2025, ICCS engaged extensively with regulators, scientists, and policymakers across multiple regions, contributing to discussions on how animal-free data can be interpreted and accepted within existing regulatory frameworks. These conversations have been instrumental in building shared understanding and trust, particularly in jurisdictions where regulatory acceptance of non-animal methods is still developing.
A pivotal milestone reshaping the oversight of cosmetics safety
The selection of the 2026 Board officers unfolds amid a period of major shifts in global cosmetics regulation, as numerous markets revisit long‑standing testing mandates in response to evolving public expectations, scientific progress, and broader international policy developments. Within this landscape, organizations such as ICCS hold an essential role by helping bridge innovation and regulatory demands, ensuring that advancement remains both trustworthy and sustainable.
ICCS leadership has consistently emphasized that progress in animal-free safety science cannot arise from isolated efforts; instead, it requires coordinated action among industry, academia, regulators, and civil society. This perspective is reflected in the composition of the Board, which brings together leaders who understand the technical, regulatory, and organizational dimensions necessary to foster significant transformation.
Statements from ICCS leadership following the elections highlighted both confidence and realism. While there is recognition of the momentum generated in recent years, there is also acknowledgment that significant work remains. Achieving widespread regulatory acceptance of animal-free approaches will require continued investment in research, transparent data sharing, and ongoing engagement with authorities to address legitimate questions around reliability, applicability, and protection of public health.
The re-elected Chair highlighted how crucial it is to harness ICCS’ global, multi-stakeholder framework to narrow the divide between innovation and regulation, ensuring that progress in animal-free science moves beyond laboratories and becomes reliable, consistently applicable tools that regulators can confidently use.
Strengthening the foundation for enduring influence
As ICCS looks toward 2026 and the years to follow, the organization stays dedicated to expanding its impact while reinforcing its achievements. The newly appointed Board leadership is anticipated to play a central role in shaping priorities that blend scientific ambition with practical implementation. This includes identifying fields that need additional direction or agreement, advancing the validation and spread of new methodologies, and promoting global harmonization to reduce inconsistencies in regulatory expectations.
Education remains another key pillar of ICCS’ strategy. By providing accessible, science-based resources and forums for discussion, the organization aims to demystify animal-free safety science and encourage informed decision-making. This is particularly important in a field where misconceptions or uneven understanding can slow progress, even when the underlying science is sound.
The organization’s structure, which unites top cosmetics and ingredient manufacturers with trade associations, research groups, and animal protection organizations, places it in a distinctive position to address these challenges. This diverse range of perspectives ensures discussions remain balanced, comprehensive, and focused on shared goals rather than narrow priorities.
Based in New York, ICCS remains active as a global initiative that underscores the inherently international landscape of cosmetics research and regulation. As products and ingredients frequently cross national borders, aligning standards and encouraging mutual acceptance of safety practices become ever more crucial. By working collaboratively, ICCS aims to support this alignment, minimize redundant efforts, and strengthen confidence in animal-free science around the world.
By confirming its 2026 Board officers, ICCS underscores stability while hinting at ongoing advancement, with its leadership team providing steady direction after a year marked by concrete achievements and the seasoned perspective needed to guide the next stage of transformation; as scientific innovation accelerates and regulatory expectations evolve, the organization’s role as a unifying hub and driving force for animal-free cosmetics safety science is set to become even more influential.
Ultimately, the significance of the 2026 Board elections lies not only in the individuals appointed, but in what their leadership represents: a sustained commitment to collaboration, scientific integrity, and the responsible advancement of alternatives to animal testing. For ICCS and its stakeholders, the coming years offer an opportunity to translate vision into lasting impact, shaping the future of cosmetics safety in a way that aligns ethics, science, and global public trust.
