Regulators from the U.S., the EU, Canada and Japan are working to finalize reports on nanomaterials, trace impurities and animal testing alternatives following the sixth meeting of the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation. The regulators came to agreements on the reports at the July 10-13 meeting in Rockville, Md., and will hammer out the details before releasing the reports this fall.

The Personal Care Products Council’s Jay Ansell, VP of cosmetic programs, is optimistic about the direction regulators are taking and the consensus developing among scientific experts regarding the use of nanomaterials in cosmetics. However, challenges remain for firms faced with requirements under European law, and further harmonization is needed between international regulatory regimes, he suggests.

“The Rose Sheet” analyzes the stories that garnered the most reader interest and had the highest impact on the personal-care industry in 2011. The top topics include Johnson & Johnson’s reformulation of its baby-care products and the establishment of the Safe Cosmetics Alliance.