How CIR Works:
Working on the high-priority and most commonly used cosmetic ingredients, CIR conducts extensive scientific literature searches, compiles research data, and prepares safety reports. CIR organizes the literature into the categories of:
- chemistry (including physical properties and manufacture);
- use (including cosmetic and non-cosmetic);
- general biology (including absorption, distribution, and metabolism);
- animal toxicology (including acute, short-term, subchronic, and chronic studies, as well as dermal irritation and sensitization); and
- a clinical assessment, which may include epidemiology studies along with classic repeat insult patch tests. In vitro test data are also gathered and incorporated into the review.
CIR Consumer Transparency:
CIR develops safety assessment monographs, publishes its work in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Toxicology, and issues an annual comprehensive collection of all CIR reports, including abstracts, discussions and conclusions.
It holds four public meetings a year and solicits public comment at different stages of the process. If the open, scientific literature contains insufficient information, the CIR Expert Panel will call on industry or other interested parties to undertake specific studies or to provide previously unpublished data.
