On the 11th of April 2018, Bio Basic Europe sponsored the Minisimposio "Innovative tests for in vitro and microbiological safety assessment of cosmetic products" at the 18th NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE ITALIAN SOCIETY OF TOXICOLOGY in Bologna. The introduction was provided by Dr. Umberto Pianca (Managing Director and Chairman of Bio Basic Europe Technical-Scientific Committee), who, after thanking those present, explained the characteristics of the scientific research performed in Bio Basic Europe laboratories since 2017. European Regulation 1223/09, which came into force in all its parts in 2013, prohibits animal testing on finished cosmetic products and on the ingredients used in the formulation. For the mandatory assessment of the safety of cosmetic products it was therefore necessary to develop alternative in vitro methods, on cell cultures or reconstructed human tissues. Dr. Claudio Angelinetta (Technical Director of Bio Basic Europe), chaired the following speeches: • Dr. Riccardo Vicini (Bio Basic Europe Head of In Vitro Laboratory): A new approach to assess the safety of cosmetic products by combining in vitro and in vivo methods; • Dr.ssa Alice Buzzella (Bio Basic Europe In Vitro Laboratory and University of Pavia): Development of an alternative method for the in vitro evaluation of the sensitizing potential; • Dr.ssa Veronica Cattaneo (University of Pavia): Evolution of the new preservative systems and verification of their effectiveness according to the UNI EN ISO 11930: 2012 standard. Finally, Dr. Pianca emphasized the strategic importance of having chosen the University of Pavia, and in particular the Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani ", as a partner for the development of scientific research, promoted in the front line by Prof. Ornella Pastoris. ANVUR published the list of the 180 university departments of excellence 2018-2022 on the 9th of January 2018. University of Pavia sees five of its departments in this list, including the Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani". A result that places the university second in Lombardy and eighth in Italy, and which will have a positive effect on the progress of scientific research in the three years 2019-22. We remind that the first two works were presented as a poster also at the 10' TOXICOLOGY CONGRESS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (CTDC10) in Belgrade, from the 18th to the 21st of April. For further information, please contact: BIO BASIC EUROPE Technical-Scientific Sales Manager Dr.ssa Katia Parmeggiani +39024155729 – customer@biobasiceurope.it Laboratory Design Test Manager Dr.ssa Eliana Regola +39024155729 – testing@biobasiceurope.it Head of In Vitro Laboratory Dr. Riccardo Vicini +39024155729 – vitro@biobasiceurope.it Technical Director Dr. Claudio Angelinetta research@biobasiceurope.it BIO BASIC EUROPE Managing Director Dr. Umberto Pianca