The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety ushers in a new phase as its 2026 Board officers take their roles, strengthening its worldwide dedication to promoting animal-free innovations in cosmetics safety science amid swift regulatory and scientific shifts.
The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) has announced its confirmed Board officers for 2026, following elections conducted during the organization’s December 2025 Board meeting, marking a notable achievement for the still young global initiative as it advances its role in promoting scientifically sound, human‑relevant alternatives to animal testing in cosmetics safety evaluation, with the newly appointed leadership illustrating both continuity and the increasing sophistication of ICCS as it builds on a year of meaningful advancements and prepares to broaden its influence across regulatory, scientific, and industry spheres worldwide.
ICCS operates at the intersection of science, policy, and collective engagement, bringing together a wide spectrum of stakeholders who pursue a common goal: promoting the global acceptance and implementation of animal-free safety science for cosmetics and their ingredients. The designation of the 2026 Board officers underscores the organization’s dedication to maintaining a strategic direction while adapting to an increasingly complex international landscape, where expectations related to ethical research, scientific rigor, and regulatory alignment continue to evolve.
Ongoing leadership stability and worldwide 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 with him as Vice Chair is Darren Praznik, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cosmetics Alliance Canada, whose extensive record in industry advocacy and regulatory collaboration delivers a solid regional perspective shaped by policy expertise. The position of Secretary will be taken on by Heike Scheffler, Ph.D., Safety Advocacy and Regulatory Toxicology Director for Global Product Stewardship in Beauty and Oral Care at Procter & Gamble, contributing wide-ranging knowledge 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 named Treasurer, providing deep leadership experience in toxicology and organizational 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.
Driving progress in animal-free science through collective collaboration
ICCS’ mission is grounded in the belief that animal-free safety assessment methods, once thoroughly optimized and validated, are not only ethically responsible but also capable of delivering exceptional scientific outcomes. Since its founding in early 2023, ICCS has worked to demonstrate that non-animal approaches can produce reliable, relevant data that protect both human health and the environment. The confirmation of the 2026 Board officers comes at a moment when this message is gaining strength, supported by tangible progress and growing involvement from regulators worldwide.
Throughout 2025, ICCS introduced a range of initiatives that reinforced its scientific base and broadened its reach. Among these efforts was the publication of a Best Practice Guidance document, created to offer clearer direction and greater uniformity in applying animal-free safety assessment methods. The guidance sought to connect scientific advances with regulatory needs, delivering a practical framework that stakeholders could use when generating or reviewing non‑animal evidence.
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 moment for cosmetics safety regulation
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 the transition to animal-free safety science cannot be achieved through isolated efforts. Instead, it requires coordinated action across industry, academia, regulators, and civil society. The composition of the Board reflects this philosophy, bringing together leaders who understand the technical, regulatory, and organizational dimensions of change.
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 emphasized the vital need to rely on ICCS’ global, multi-stakeholder framework to close the gap between innovation and regulation, ensuring that advances in animal-free science extend beyond the laboratory and evolve into dependable, consistently implemented tools that regulators can trust.
Strengthening foundations for long-term impact
As ICCS looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, the organization is focused on consolidating its achievements while expanding its reach. The newly confirmed Board leadership is expected to play a central role in shaping priorities that balance scientific ambition with practical implementation. This includes identifying areas where additional guidance or consensus-building is needed, supporting the validation and communication of new methodologies, and fostering international alignment to reduce fragmentation in regulatory requirements.
Education stands as another fundamental component of ICCS’ strategy. By offering accessible, science-grounded materials and spaces for dialogue, the organization seeks to clarify animal-free safety science and support well-informed choices. This remains crucial in a discipline where misunderstandings or uneven knowledge can hinder advancement, even when the core science is robust.
The organization’s structure, encompassing leading cosmetics and ingredient producers alongside trade and research groups as well as animal protection organizations, places it in a distinctive position to tackle these challenges. This broad range of viewpoints helps keep discussions balanced, well‑rooted, and oriented toward common objectives rather than limited agendas.
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.
In confirming its 2026 Board officers, ICCS signals both stability and forward momentum. The leadership team brings continuity from a year marked by concrete achievements, alongside the experience and perspective needed to navigate the next phase of change. As scientific innovation accelerates and regulatory expectations evolve, the organization’s role as a convener and catalyst for animal-free cosmetics safety science is set to become even more relevant.
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.
