Symrise Joins the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing

Symrise has taken the next step down this path by joining the partnership. It is the first company in the fragrance and flavor industry to join the EPAA and has committed itself to upholding the partnership’s existing standards.

10 Jul 2012 --- Symrise recently joined the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA), becoming the first company in the fragrance and flavor industry to do so. This partnership is a unique collaboration between the European Commission, European trade associations and companies from seven different industries. Its goal is to promote alternative testing methods through Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (so-called 3Rs) of animal testing.

Every day, Symrise develops new products for the fragrance and flavor market. That’s why safety for use in food, scented goods and other end products is a key focus. This means ensuring that the raw materials and formulas the company uses are safe for its employees, customers, consumers and the environment. To achieve this, Symrise uses alternative testing methods wherever possible. The goal is to reduce the number of animals used for testing purposes to the absolute minimum and completely end the practice at some point.

Symrise has taken the next step down this path by joining the partnership. It is the first company in the fragrance and flavor industry to join the EPAA and has committed itself to upholding the partnership’s existing standards. This includes contributing to the development and implementation of new alternative approaches. The EPAA partners share practices and expertise under the umbrella of the Steering Committee and three dedicated platforms. These groups identify 3R opportunities which are reflected in the EPAA action program. Symrise’s involvement focuses in particular on the work of the Platforms on Science and 3Rs in Regulation.

The company already has relevant experience in this area. For example, it performs advanced analyses with the aid of alternative testing methods. This includes the Ceetox method for skin sensitization and the Gentronix Green and Blue Screen analyses. Another method, the CuTech model for skin sensitization, was developed jointly by CuTech and Symrise. The two companies received a European patent for their innovative ex vivo real skin model last year.

“With our membership in the EPAA, we want to contribute to the further development of alternative testing methods and support the process with our knowledge and experience,” says Dr. Boris Müller, Vice President Global Product Compliance Symrise. “By pooling the available resources, everyone involved benefits and this will hopefully result in better, more quickly available and widely accepted alternative methods.”

Dr. Claus Oliver Schmidt, Corporate Vice President Quality and Regulatory Affairs Symrise, adds, “We now have a direct information exchange on new developments in alternative testing with the members of the EPAA and can participate at an earlier stage. This ensures greater regulatory acceptance while enhancing safety for both customers and consumers.”