Participants : Mr P. Blain, Mrs Y. De Roeck, Mr J.F. Doré, Mr P. Elsner, Mr V. Kapoulas, Mr F. Kemper, Mr N. Loprieno, Mr J. Parra, Mr C.J. Powell, Mrs V. Rogiers, Mr J. Vives Rego

Mr L. Bansil DG III, Mr A. Van Elst DG XXIV, Mrs S. Van Der Louw DG XXIV

Apologies : Mr K. Andersen

1. Adoption of the Agenda

The agenda was adopted

2. Adoption of the minutes

The minutes were adopted, subject to the following modifications :

Point 3, last paragraph : full stop after'meeting of the SCC'.

3. Introduction by the Co-ordinator

The Co-ordinator presented to the new members the past and future work of the Working Party. The work to be done enters in the framework of the Cosmetics Directive, and in particular its Article 4.

He said that the meeting should define rather rapidly a list and time schedule of tasks to be performed and to be finalised so to allow the Commission to meet the requirements of the Directive.

These requirements are that the marketing of cosmetics containing ingredients or combinations of ingredients tested on animals shall be prohibited after 30.6.2000 and the Commission might submit before 1.1.2000 draft measures to postpone this date of implementation for those test methods in respect of which there has been insufficient progress. This Working Party will conclude its mandate in July 1999 by presenting its opinion to the Commission.

4. Mandate for the SCCNFP WP "Alternatives"

In the context of the renewed working environment of the scientific committees and to enable the Commission services to elaborate their policy on consumer health protection, mandates are established which addresses specific issues to be dealt with by the scientific committees.

In this perspective, a mandate for the WP "Alternatives" was drafted, which outlined the tasks and requests to Committee in relation to the validation of alternative methods. During the meeting, this draft mandate was illustrated.

The document was discussed and commented. The revised version will be tabled for adoption during the next meeting.

5. Notes of Guidance

The secretariat presented to the meeting the Notes of Guidance in this final version. It was decided that a further revision (= 3rd) should be finalised before the end of the present mandate.

Annex 4 (the level of exposure) and annex 7 (microbial quality) are, among others, items for further discussion with the cosmetic industry.

6. Other items

Point 5 : Review of Industry's Model Product Information File, Point 6 : In vitro Photo-irritation, and Point 7 - Test on Humans were not discussed in depth due to a lack of time. These items will be dealt with as needed during future meetings.

7. Any Other Business

4 further meetings were planned and the respective agenda's established. The dates are 5-6 March, 24-25 March, 20-21 April and 12-13 May 1998 (XXIV/1660/98).

It was also decided to start the meeting on the afternoon of the first day. This afternoon will be devoted to discuss issues among Committee Members and representatives of the Commission services only. The second day will be reserved for discussion with representatives from the cosmetic industry, ECVAM, ZEBET or any other party concerned.