What’s new?
On December 12, 2025, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) opened the public consultation phase for the 52nd Amendment to its Standards. This consultation runs until June 12, 2026, providing stakeholders with six months to review proposed changes and submit feedback.
The IFRA Standards represent the fragrance industry’s risk-based safety framework, establishing mandatory requirements for IFRA members and serving as globally recognized best practices for the safe use of fragrance ingredients. These Standards are developed through peer-reviewed research and safety analysis conducted in partnership with the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) and evaluated by an independent Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety.
This Amendment follows the completion of the 51st Amendment implementation, which concluded in October 2025, continuing IFRA’s three-year update cycle designed to incorporate the latest scientific evidence on fragrance ingredient safety.
Main provisions:
The 52nd Amendment consultation includes:
- 40 new IFRA Restriction Standards to address potential dermal sensitization effects for which the systemic toxicity endpoints have also been evaluated (like Acetyl cedrene, Linalyl acetate and Methyl salicylate)
- 11 new IFRA Restriction Standards to control potential dermal sensitization effects based solely on QRA2 (including Cedrol and Myrcenyl acetate)
- 15 revised IFRA Restriction Standards to reflect the outcome of updated RIFM Safety Assessments (like for Benzyl salicylate, Carvone, Citronellol and Hexyl salicylate)
- 1 Revised IFRA Specification Standard to include restrictions for Musk ketone
- 1 Revised IFRA Restriction Standard to include specifications for Acetylated vetiver oil
- 8 Revised IFRA Restriction Standards addressing phototoxicity considerations for Furocoumarins in Natural Complex Substances (NCS)
- Update on generic CAS number to ensure that isomers traded under the CAS are clearly identified as being within the scope of the Standard
What now?
The proposed amendment is open for consultation until June 12, 2026, in order to give the industry the opportunity to submit its comments and it is estimated that IFRA will publish the final notification in late 2026/early 2027.
Following notification, implementation deadlines are:
- For new creations: 11 months after the date of Notification
- For existing creations: 30 months after the date of Notification
References:
IFRA launches consultation on latest update to its safe use program.
