The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) has partnered with Elsevier on the Food and Chemical Toxicology Fragrance Material Safety Assessment Center to provide open access to RIFM’s peer-reviewed Safety Assessments and related papers and research.
RIFM evaluates available data and sponsors studies for relevant toxicological endpoints for local and systemic human health effects, including genotoxicity, repeated dose and reproductive toxicity, skin sensitization, photoirritation/photoallergenicity, and local respiratory toxicity. RIFM also sponsors testing and academic research on the fate and effects of fragrance materials in water, soil, sediments, and air, working closely with international research organizations to assess the behavior and risk of chemicals in the environment.
RIFM compiles its findings, along with other relevant data, into Safety Assessments for each material currently in use by the fragrance industry. The Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety, an independent, international team of researchers and academics with no ties to the fragrance industry, reviews and must approve all of RIFM’s Safety Assessments before RIFM submits them for peer-reviewed publication. RIFM Safety Assessments are written according to the guidelines outlined in the Criteria for the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (the “Criteria Document”) safety evaluation process for fragrance ingredients. The Criteria Document provides guidance on conducting safety assessments and is designed to incorporate the best science to appropriately evaluate fragrance ingredients of both natural and synthetic origin using the latest testing strategies and methods. The assessments may be found by using the search feature on the website. Group Studies and Background Studies that predate the Criteria Document may be found in the Historical Data section.
RIFM Safety Assessments are dynamic, “living” documents, and RIFM reevaluates materials on a rolling five-year basis to help ensure safe conditions of use. When a Safety Assessment is updated and published, only the most up-to-date version will be available on this resource centre. (Previous versions of the safety assessments will always be available on the Food and Chemical Toxicology site or from Science Direct). A list of RIFM safety assessments that have been reviewed with no changes will also appear on this resource centre.
IFEAT sponsors a collaboration with RIFM on the safety evaluation of fragrance materials, including the assessment of Essential Oils and Natural Complex Substances (NCSs). The objective of the project is to keep building a recognised database on the safety and toxicology of NCSs that is accessible to IFEAT members. We believe this information is invaluable in promoting the safe use of products to governments, regulatory bodies and to the public.