CSIR-IITR inks MoU with RIFM to make standardization of perfume fragrance

Lucknow-based CSIR-India Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) and the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials Inc (RIFM), a leading international scientific authority for the safe use of fragrance materials, have inked an MoU to further strengthen strategic safety assessments of fragrance materials.

The pact was signed by Prof. Alok Dhawan, Director, CSIR-IITR and Mr. Jim Romine, President of the RIFM at the RIFM’s 52nd annual meeting held recently in New Jersey, USA.

Prof. Dhawan, who was invited as a featured speaker for the event, spoke about the safety and standardisation of fragrance materials in India. He said that by 2024, the natural fragrance ingredients market is expected to reach $5.3-bn, wherein India would hold about 40% of the global market with a projected growth of approximately 12% in those five years. Similar to RIFM, the 53-year old CSIR-IITR assesses safety in essential oils focusing on genotoxicity, environmental toxicity, phototoxicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory toxicity, sensitisation and repeat dose toxicity.

The MoU follows an initiative taken by leading flavours & fragrances (F&F) firm, Ultra International India, in March this year to co-organise a two-day conclave – CSIR-Industry Action Plan for Sustainable Development – INCITE 2018 – at IITR headquarters in Lucknow which saw participation from leading F&F stakeholders in India. The meet was organised in collaboration with RIFM, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), CSIR-IITR, and CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Fragrance & Flavour Development Centre.