The European Federation for Cosmetic Ingredients (EFfCI) has asked trade show organisers not to try fitting “a whole year of events into 3 or 4 months of the year”.

In an open letter published today, the European trade association that brings together manufacturers of synthetic and natural ingredients for the cosmetics and personal care industry, wrote: “We do not feel confident that it will be appropriate (or even permitted) to organise gatherings of many hundreds of people, possibly from around the globe, until we can be sure that we are not creating risks to their health, and that of their families.”

Most of the trade shows, seminars and conferences that were scheduled during the first half of the year have been either cancelled or postponed. The in-cosmetics Global trade show, one of the industry’s main events, which was originally due to take place in Barcelona, Spain, from March 31 to April 2 was initially postponed to 30 June - 2 July, 2020, before being rescheduled for October 2020.

“We all look forward to the time when we will be able to meet together, and enjoy the company of our peers and customers. We do not feel that that time is during what remains of 2020. We ask organisers of events to take this on board. To those whose events have already been cancelled, we would say that rescheduling for later in 2020 is not appropriate. Our members must operate in a manner which is consistent with the public health guidance and instructions issued in the countries in which they are based and also in which their staff operate. We have consulted with our members to understand their views regarding conferences in the coming months and we would report that most of the people in EFfCI we have spoken to will not attend, or will not be allowed to attend. We understand that this view is taken by many of the people who would come as visitors,” said the organisation.

EFfCI therefore suggests that trade show organisers wait until 2021 to hold new editions, as circumstances allow.

“Trade events are a part of the life-blood of our industry. We have sorely missed the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and opinions, and to launch our innovations and new concepts. It is far more important that we know we are behaving responsibly, and putting the health and safety of people first,” concluded the open letter.