Cosmetic safety assessment in the European market covers the identification of formulation and ingredient-related exposure, assessment, toxicological evaluation, and scientific data. As such, it might be helpful for safety assessors and regulatory professionals to sort the input data according to the key assessment principles to make the process more efficient and standardized. Advanced digital tools can be applied to manage the calculations, documents, and other information needed for the evaluation.
The most effective safety tool
Document management in relation to a safety assessment is another essential aspect that can be automated with the help of an SCCS tool. Such software can store calculation, formula-related, ingredient-related, scientific analysis, and other records needed for the exposure assessment in one place to help track all the changes and ensure the required level of documentation for audits.
Indeed, this feature is essential in relation to any changes made to a formulation, including ingredients and their concentrations, as the calculation records have to be updated. With the help of a compliant tool, it will be possible to identify the documents that require updates.
However, it is critical to note that the software’s limitations should not be overlooked, namely, its inability to fully support the assessor in completing the calculation. An SCCS compliant safety tool can assist with the assessment process, but scientific evaluation and human expertise remain integral parts of a cosmetic safety assessment. As such, toxicological and risk assessments should always be performed by qualified personnel. Regulatory professionals should also understand the scientific and regulatory aspects of cosmetic safety assessment to ensure that all necessary steps are completed to support the safety of the cosmetic product.
The exposure assessment and its interpretation are some of the most important steps in a cosmetic safety evaluation. As such, it is recommended that regulatory professionals make sure the calculation records and scientific data are precise and evidence-based. Indeed, it is always necessary to pay special attention to the integrity of the documentation, calculation, records, scientific data, and references, which should not be overlooked when using advanced software to complete a number of calculations using various algorithms. Go ahead! And explore the SCCS Notes of Guidance tool, and SCCS compliant safety tool.