Fragrance and flavour trade association splits

03-Dec-2009 - Last updated on 03-Dec-2009 at 12:32 GMT

The European flavour and fragrance trade association EFFA has split, reflecting the increasingly different regulatory needs of the two sectors.

EFFA’s General Assembly has voted to transfer its fragrance regulatory and advocacy sector, to the International Fragrance Association IFRA.

As a result of the decision EFFA’s REACH manager Cristina Arregui will move to IFRA and help develop a department for European Affairs at the international association.

In addition, the eight national trade associations that make up EFFA will become members of IFRA and be represented in the Steering Committee set up to drive the focus of the new department along with IFRA’s member companies.

Different regulatory arenas

Director of communications Stephen Weller explained how the decision was motivated by new regulatory challenges in the two areas.

“Trade associations need to specialise more. Although many of our members manufacture both fragrances and flavours, they are increasingly different sciences, with different products and above all very different regulatory arenas,” he told CosmeticsDesign.

This sentiment was echoed by EFFA president Christian Solomon.

“The scope of EFFA will change. The membership felt that both sectors, flavours and fragrance, would be better served by dedicated association teams specialising in each area,” he said.

Protecting IP

One of the current challenges faced by the fragrance industry is how to protect intellectual property while answering calls for transparency and the disclosure of ingredients, explained Weller.

“The transparency of our industry is high on our agenda as is helping our members deal with the REACH regulation,” he added.

The new European Affairs Department, with its focus on regulation and advocacy, will be created within IFRA as of the beginning of January 2010.