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A Summit Built for the Compliance Leaders of Today and Tomorrow
A New Milestone in Cosmetics Compliance & Safety
In 2026, European Cosmetics Responsible Person Association (ERPA) annual conference formerly known as the CRCC enters a new chapter — with a new name, an expanded agenda, and a sharpened purpose. Now presented as the ERPA Annual Summit, this evolution reflects the growing demand for clarity, dialogue, and collaboration across the regulatory and scientific landscape of cosmetics compliance.
This year, the Summit finds its home at Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands and one of Europe's most historic centers of scientific and medical advancement. The setting underscores the event’s renewed commitment to rigorous, evidence-based learning grounded in academic excellence and regulatory insight. What remains unchanged is the mission: to provide a platform where regulatory authorities, scientific experts, and industry leaders come together to tackle the practical challenges of cosmetics compliance from evolving expectations around CPSRs and RP qualifications to the practical application of NAMs in safety assessments.
What's new for 2026?
The ERPA Annual Summit is a premier gathering dedicated exclusively to the evolving roles of Responsible Persons, Safety Assessors, Testing Laboratories, and related Regulatory professionals in the cosmetics industry. Building on ERPA’s strong foundation as a trusted association for compliance leaders, the Summit is designed to foster in-depth technical dialogue, peer learning, and alignment across industry and authorities.
Held at Leiden University, one of Europe's oldest academic institutions, the Summit provides a unique setting for open engagement with EU regulators, national competent authorities, global compliance experts, and leading scientific contributors.
Developed in consultation with members of the ERPA network and leading regulatory advisors, the program focuses on real-world regulatory expectations, emerging safety assessment methods (NAMs), CPSR documentation quality, and cross-border compliance strategies.
Whether you’re a seasoned RP or newly appointed Safety Assessor, ERPA Summit 2026 is where science, safety, and compliance come together.
2026 Program Theme
Grounded in Research, Shaped by Policy
Connect with the people shaping cosmetics compliance in Europe
Network with Responsible Persons, Safety Assessors, Regulators, Testing Laboratories, and industry experts advancing product safety and regulatory integrity.
Engage directly with authorities driving Regulatory Change
Hear directly from the European Commission, NVWA, UK OPSS, ICCR, and others on evolving expectations & enforcement priorities.
Learn from the experts applying Science to Compliance
Explore practical NAM applications, CPSR development, and read-across justifications with hands-on sessions led by toxicologists and assessors.
What is ERPA?
ERPA unites the people behind product safety — Responsible Persons, Safety Assessors, Testing Laboratories, regulators, and scientific experts to strengthen cosmetics compliance across Europe.
Founded to support those ensuring products are safe, compliant, and trusted, ERPA created the Annual Summit as a focused space for regulatory clarity, technical depth, and meaningful collaboration.
Now entering its 10th edition, the ERPA Summit continues to bring the compliance community together. In 2026, we gather at Leiden University to align on emerging methods, share real-world experience, and move the industry forward together.
What is a Responsible Person?
“Only cosmetic products for which a legal or natural person is designated within the Community as ‘responsible person’ shall be placed on the market.” (Art. 4.1., 1223/2009/EC, L 342/65, 22.12.2009)
“For each cosmetic product placed on the market, the responsible person shall ensure compliance with the relevant obligations set out in this Regulation.” (Art. 4.2., 1223/2009/EC, L 342/65, 22.12.2009)
Learn more at ERPA's Annual Summit.
What is a Cosmetic Product?
‘Cosmetic product’ means any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body (epidermis, hair system, nails, lips and external genital organs) or with the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance, protecting them, keeping them in good condition or correcting body odours.”
(Art. 2., 1223/2009/EC, L 342/64, 22.12.2009)
Empowering Responsible Persons, Elevating Compliance Standards
Event Location
Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
Event Dates
Feb 24-25, 2026
Time
10:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Agenda at a Glance (Day 1)
10:00 AM: Welcome
11:00 AM: Session Presentations - EU
12:30 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM: Roundtables
3:00 PM: Networking Break
3:30 PM: Session Presentations - Global
5:15 PM: Networking Reception
ERPA Summit 2026: Advancing Compliance, Together
Secure your seat at the premier ERPA Summit 2026 — the only cosmetics compliance operators event of its kind.
Join us for two full days of intensive learning, regulator engagement, and peer-to-peer networking, all hosted at the historic Leiden University.
Don’t miss the chance to attend at a reduced rate — Register now.
Registration Includes
- Access to Keynotes, Featured Speakers, and Educational breakout sessions and roundtables
- Year-round access to all Sessions On-Demand
- Access to 'State of Cosmetics Compliance Report 2025' post-event.
- Attendee lunches Tuesday/Wednesday, coffee breaks and networking opportunities
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Peer-to-peer Networking
Need Help?
For answers to summit questions, please e-mail at ERPA@SegmentAgency.com
Official Partners
ERPA is excited to welcome our Official Partners for the 10th ERPA Annual Summit. Stay tuned for more as we continue to announce them!
Get Involved
Align your brand with regulatory excellence—sponsor the ERPA Summit and connect directly with Europe's top compliance leaders.
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