ABOUT THE IFSCC Click for A History of the IFSCC Click for IFSCC Activities Click for IFSCC Governance Click for IFSCC Press release Click for IFSCC Past Presidents A Brief History of the IFSCC The IFSCC is a truly a worldwide federation dedicated to international cooperation in cosmetic science and technology. Interest in the formation of such an organisation crystallized in Paris in 1956 and culminated in the birth of the federation in Brussels, Belgium on September 8, 1959. At that time there were only 8 countries entering the Federation. Today, 46 countries have met the high standards of scientific and educational qualifications of the IFSCC and, as members, support the organization's aims and programs. The number of individual members in the Federation now exceeds 15,000 and are still growing The IFSCC continues to grow as the cosmetic industry expands worldwide. As new Societies develop in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, they will be welcomed into the Federation as they qualify for membership Click to return to the top of the page IFSCC Activities The IFSCC is committed to advancing the knowledge of cosmetic science and to encouraging the dissemination of this knowledge through international meetings. It encourages a strong, cooperative exchange of information among its societies and their members MEETINGS: The major meetings of the IFSCC are the Congress, held during even-numbered years. The Congress usually lasts 3-4 days and, in recent years, has drawn 1,500 or more delegates. The IFSCC Congress continues to be one of the most popular international meetings in the cosmetic industry. In the late 1970s, the IFSCC decided to host a smaller, 2-day meeting between congresses. Attendance at these meetings has averaged about 300 delegates. PUBLICATIONS: The IFSCC publishes monographs on key subjects. Subjects currently available are Principles of Product Evaluation, Stability Testing, Rheology, Emulsions and Emulsification, Microbiology, Antiperspirants and Deodorants, Microemulsions, Raw Material Analysis, Analysis of Polymers. A quarterly IFSCC Magazine is sent to every member of every IFSCC Society which incorporates scientific papers, news on member societies and other information. Click to return to the top of the page IFSCC Governance The Federation has a bicameral governing body consisting of a Praesidium and a Council of delegates from member societies. The Council and Praesidium meet annually in the fall. The Council elects the officers of the Federation who in turn make up the Praesidium. The Praesidium also meets every spring, usually in Europe. The head office of the IFSCC constitutes the Secretariat of the Federation. This office is maintained in the cooperation with the British Society of Cosmetic Scientists. The administrative executive of this office is the Secretary General of the IFSCC, Mrs. Lorna K. Weston, who is assisted by Mrs Gem Bektas. The IFSCC actively pursues all means to further its aims of encouraging international communication and cooperation in the science and technology of the cosmetic industry. It welcomes contributions from its member societies toward achieving these aims. Click to return to the top of the page IFSCC Press-release The Twenty Fifth IFSCC Congress Building Cosmetics: Research, Technology, Culture Coinciding with their Fiftieth anniversary, the Spanish Society of Cosmetic Chemists, SEQC, hosted the most recent biennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists in Barcelona, Spain from October 6th-9th. Under the title of “Building Cosmetics…Research, Technology, Culture” a total of 71 podium presentations were presented and 315 posters were displayed for review and discussion with the authors. Congress talks included three keynote lectures by eminent members of Spanish academic institutions that reviewed topics of current interest and most recent advances. Dr. Antonio Ferrer-Montiel taught the immunology of the skin; Dr. Jose Vicente Castell asked “Quo vadis? Alternative test methods and then detailed a full account of the state of the science in finding alternative toxicological studies to animal testing. Finally, Dra. Maria Blasco of the Spanish National Cancer Research Center revealed her discoveries in the area of stem cell research and its background science. An international group of scientists delivered the remain 68 presentations over three days in sessions focused on the themes of Molecular Cosmetics, Protective Strategies, Well-being Cosmetics and Safety of Cosmetics. Nearly 1,000 global delegates arrived from over 50 countries to hear the lectures and gather information from the commercial exhibits adjacent to the lecture halls in the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya. The delegates and their associates and partners all enjoyed the pleasant weather in Barcelona that made all of the outdoor social events especially memorable. In advance of the scientific sessions of the Congress, the IFSCC Council met with the current 2008 Praesidium the functional members of which reported on activities and new initiatives. There will be a 50th Anniversary edition of the IFSCC Magazine for which member societies are asked to contribute information and history. Conferences will in future be directed towards educational goals for delegates besides the scientific content to differentiate them from Congress events. More programs for member education including the new Ecaterina Merica Cosmetic Educational Program will be adopted. The new event venue selection process was outlined with the rotation among the zones and the need to have each zone identify the chosen venue for the events. Additionally, after nine years, a modest increase of the subscription fees was voted in at 7 CHF per member. The next event will be hosted by the Australian Society of Zone 2 in 2009. This IFSCC Conference will be in Melbourne, Australia – 7-9 October 2009 - “A Coroboree of Science and Beauty.” The Council voted in the new Praesidium consisting of: President Mr. Xavier Romeu (Spain) Vice President Dr Gavin Greenoak (Australia) Treasurer Miss Judi Beerling (UK) Hon Secretary Mrs. Anne Hunt (France) Committee Member No 3 Dr Alberto Martin (Argentina) Committee Member No 2 Prof Panvipa Krisadaphong (Thailand) Committee Member No 1 Mr. Roy Gardiner Chair - Science Committee Dr Fujihiro Kanda (Japan) Chair – Education Committee Mrs. Amy Wyatt (USA) Chair - PR Committee Mr. Art Georgalas (USA) Chair - Publication Committee Dr Hartmut Schmidt-Lewerkuehne (Germany) Deputy Chair - Science Committee Dr Ob-Suk Lee (Korea) Hon Auditors: Mr. Henri Sebag (France) Ms. Susan Hurst (UK) This new Praesidium was proposed by Dr Maite San-Miguel (Chile) and seconded by Mr. Gary Agism (USA). Their proposal was carried unanimously and with applause. Those continuing in office are: Immediate Past President Dr Johann Wiechers (Netherlands) Secretary General Mrs. Lorna Weston (UK) Assistant to Secretary General Mrs. Gem Bektas (UK) X Romeu presented the Past President Scroll to the retiring Immediate Past President Dr Kumano. He also thanked Dr Y Yamamoto for his time on the Praesidium and the work he has done as Chair of the Science Committee. The Opening Ceremony of the Congress was conducted by Mr. Joaquim Sisto, the President of the Executive Board of the 25th Congress, Mr. Ricard Armengol, the current President of the Spanish Society of Cosmetic Chemists and Dr. Johann Wiechers the President of the IFSCC. As part of this evenings important presentations was the awarding of the Maison de Navarre Young Scientists prize for this years outstanding essay under the theme “In the IFSCC’s Fiftieth Year – How has the Cosmetics Industry changed over the last 50 years and what will it look like in another 50 years” to Ms.Telanie Weys of South Africa. The delegates also enjoyed a unique diversion in comparing the development of a fragrance composition with that of a musical composition linking three increasing complex perfumes created by Agusti Vidal with three instrumental pieces played on piano by the perfumer accompanied by an outstanding wind and string jazz ensemble. Three days of scientific presentations ranged from biochemistry of skin aging and new chemicals for treatment from parrot feathers to hair microstructure and unique lamellar phase make-up removers. Throughout the Congress, attendees had an opportunity to review a wide variety of posters and discuss them with the authors. Many of these reflected the drive to discover botanical based treatments for skin in areas of anti-aging, pigmentation and inflammation caused by UV. The Congress informal dinner in the gardens and pool area adjacent to the Palau and Hotel Rey Juan Carlos allowed the delegates to socialize and enjoy the entertainment of a troupe of drummers and stilt walking actors enacting a mute fantasy play that seemed to involve Poseidon and accompanying sea nymphs and performers. The Gala Dinner and closing ceremony took place on Montjuic overlooking all of Barcelona at the Palau Sant Jordi. The ceremonies began after some entertainment by a variety of mimes and musical performers at the entry promenade and in the arena with glasses of cava and hors’de overirs. The IFSCC Presidential transition took place with the installation of Mr.Xavier Romeu, and parting speech by Dr. Johann Wiechers the previous President with thanks to our past President Dr. Yoshimaru Kumano who departs from the Praesidium this year. Dr. Francesc Casado of the Scientific Committee presented the awards to the best papers as voted by the committee: The Basic Science Award went to Shohei Kuroda of Pola Chemical, Japan for his presentation “Epidermal Tight Junction: The Master Skin Barrier Regulator”; the Applied Science Award went to Tomo Osawa of Shiseido Co.LTD of Japan for his presentation “Development of a Water Resistant / detergent Washable powder Coated with Stimuli Responsive Polymer and its Application to Sun-care Products” and the Poster Award went to Erik Schultze of Henkel KgaA, Germany for “Specific Repair of Hair Keratin”. Entertainment during the Gala dinner had a distinct Spanish flair with the Guitar Orchestra of Barcelona concert, arias from Bizet’s opera Carmen as well as a Flamenco Dance performance by Jesus Cortez and company and dancing horses performing their own flamenco-like shows in dramatic fashion at table side from Jerez de la Frontera. Following the Gala there was dancing and rock songs until well into the night. Click to return to the top of the page IFSCC Past Presidents SURNAME FIRST NAME COUNTRY YEAR JOHANN WIECHERS NETHERLANDS 2007 KUMANO YOSHIMARU JAPAN 2006 SECCHI GIANFRANCO ITALY 2005 PAVLICHKO JOE USA 2004 KIM CHANG KEW KOREA 2003 JANOUSEK ANGELA UK 2002 LAI JENG-SHAOW Taiwan 2001 WITTERN KLAUS-PETER GERMANY 2000 OZAWA TATSUYA  JAPAN 1999 GRIZZO SERGE FRANCE 1998 GREENBERG STEPHEN USA 1997 OPPENHEIM ALAN AUSTRALIA 1996 SCHNEIDER PETER SWITZERLAND 1995 MIGNINI ELIO ITALY 1994 PELEJERO CARLES SPAIN 1993 MITSUI TAKEO JAPAN 1992 VARJOVAARA MARJA-LIISA FINLAND 1991 BUCHER GAIL USA 1990 VAN CROONENBORGH ROB NETHERLANDS 1989 ROTHWELL PHILIP UK 1988 MOTITSCHKE LOTHAR GERMANY 1987 PUIG MARTIN JORGE SPAIN 1986 OHTA SABURO JAPAN 1985 RUBIN JAIME ARGENTINA 1984 MASO HENRY USA 1983 AUBIN GUY FRANCE 1982 LINDER-HERNELL GUNILLA SWEDEN 1981 COCCHINI ALDO ITALY 1980 AVALLE NADIA SWITZERLAND 1979 STRASSER PETER AUSTRALIA 1978 FUKUHARA NOBUKAZU (NICK) JAPAN 1977 LANGE WINTHROP USA 1976 LODI VERA ITALY 1975 CLARK RONALD UK 1974 HOLMBERG JOHN SCANDINAVIA 1973 GERSHON SOL USA 1972 NEUGEBAUER HERBERT GERMANY 1971 SERRA COLL FRANCISCO SPAIN 1970 ZVIAK CHARLES FRANCE 1969 KOYAMA TSUNEMASA JAPAN 1968 CONRAD LESTER USA 1967 WITJENS PIET NETHERLANDS 1966 DESPERROIS EGMONT FRANCE 1965 WILKINSON JOHN UK 1964 STRIANSE SABBAT USA 1963 ARTIGAS JOSE SPAIN 1962 MASCH LUDWIG GERMANY 1961 MARRIOTT ROBERT UK 1960 DE NAVARRE MAISON G USA 1959 Click to return to the top of the page