RIFM’s Anne Marie Api, PhD, and Danielle Botelho, PhD, advance RIFM’s science in China
12.17.24
The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials’ President Anne Marie Api, PhD, Fellow ATS, and Director of Scientific Operations Danielle Botelho, PhD, presented on RIFM’s world-renowned safety assessment program and cutting-edge research into animal-free new approach methodologies (NAMs) at a critical fragrance safety stakeholder event in China earlier this December.
On December 4 and 5, Drs. Api and Botelho joined over 130 participants representing more than 50 Chinese companies for a joint workshop of the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), the China Association of Fragrance, Flavour and Cosmetic Industries (CAFFCI), and RIFM.
As part of Day 1’s morning session, Dr. Api presented on RIFM’s safety assessment process for human health and the environment and the Creme-RIFM Aggregate exposure model, which provides an accurate prediction for fragrance ingredient exposure from all products consumed. During the same session, Dr. Botelho presented RIFM’s pioneering safety assessment of Natural Complex Substance (NCS) fragrance materials.
On Day 2, Dr. Api provided the audience with a thorough overview of the Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA2), which is used to assess the risk of skin sensitization.
Both days were rounded out by afternoon panel discussions featuring Drs. Api and Botelho as well as IFRA and CAFFCI staff.
The event also included a kick-off for fragrance safety awareness activities in 2025, featuring IFRA and CAFFCI staff, an official from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), academicians from the China Academy of Science, and others from domestic universities and research institutions.
“One of RIFM’s critical goals this year was to ensure we took advantage of numerous opportunities to advance our science in emerging markets, including China,” Dr. Api explained. “The IFRA-CAFFCI workshop, panel discussions, and awareness activities kickoff put us in direct contact with a diverse array of stakeholders, from many of those creating fragrances in China to the people tasked with regulating fragrance safe use in the area.”