Registration is now open for SCC79!

 

Home  /  Education  /  Courses  /  2025  /  Regulatory Fundamentals in the US

Regulatory Fundamentals in the U.S.

Course Overview

This course provides a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of cosmetic industry regulations, with a focus on safety and claims substantiation under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MOCRA). Through interactive case studies and expert-led discussions, participants will follow the lifecycle of a cosmetic product—from safety assessment and toxicological review to claims evaluation and substantiation. The course highlights key regulatory bodies and frameworks, including the FDA, FTC, Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), and international authorities such as the SCCS, giving attendees a well-rounded understanding of compliance expectations in the current U.S. marketplace.

Building on real-world examples, the program also explores how to navigate issues such as serious adverse event (SAE) reporting, toxicological risk assessment (TRA), and the fine line between cosmetic and drug claims. Participants will gain insight into what constitutes credible evidence, how to design and interpret product testing, and best practices for developing a robust, defensible safety and claims program.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for professionals working in product development, regulatory affairs, safety assessment, quality assurance, and marketing within the cosmetics and personal care industry. It is particularly valuable for formulators, toxicologists, regulatory specialists, and brand managers who need to understand how evolving U.S. regulations impact product safety standards and claims substantiation. The program is also suitable for newcomers seeking a strong foundation in the legal and regulatory principles that govern cosmetic products in the United States.

Course Pricing:

  • $330 - SCC Member
  • $440 - Non-Member
  • $205 – SCC Junior or Student Member
     

Note: Companies registering 5+ SCC members for CEP coursees receive a 10% price dicount per registration. Discounted group registrations need to occur during the same online transaction, and are facilitated by SCC Headquarters Staff.

ATTENTION NON-MEMEBERS: you will save money by joining the SCC prior to registering for this course. If applying for SCC membership, application processing takes up to five business days. If you would like to request expedited application processing, in order to sign up for this course, please send your request to education@scconline.org. Member pricing will not be in effect for CEP registrations until after the membership application is approved. 
 

 View our CEP Course Pricing and Refund Policy.
 

Course Outline

Part 1: Safety

INTRO: Case Study Exercise: the journey of a cosmetic product through the current safety landscape.  

  • Legal basis for cosmetics 
    • Safety standard change
    • SAE, AED (changes due to MOCRA)
  • How do you meet the legal basis for safety 
    • What is the CIR? What does it do? How is it relevant?
    • What is SCCS? What does it do and how is it relevant?

CHECK IN: Case Study Exercise (w/Q&A)

  • Safety Substantiation
    • Safety substantiation overview
    • Safety profile needed for product types 
    • What do you do once you have your TRA?
    • Logical safety program
    • Cosmetic Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s)

REVIEW: Case Study Exercise: the journey of a cosmetic product through the current safety landscape (w/Q&A)

Part 2: Claims

INTRO: Case Study Exercise: the journey of a cosmetic product through the current claims landscape.

  • Legal basis for claims 
    • FTC New Guides
    • FTC burden of proof
    • Drug claims vs. cosmetic claims
    • NAD: overview, priorities, case studies

CHECK IN: Case Study Exercise (w/Q&A)

  • How do you meet those claims? 
    • Base methodology 
      • Objective vs. subjective
      • Statistical significance vs. clinical relevance
    • Marketing claims add-ons 
    • The nuts and bolts 
      • How to design a study
      • How they work and why
      • Good studies vs. bad studies

REVIEW: Case Study Exercise: the journey of a cosmetic product through the current claims landscape (w/Q&A)
 

Instructors: 

  • Ameann DeJohn
  • Craig Weiss

Guest Speakers:

  • Angela Diesch, Potomac Law Group (Legal/Safety)
  • Jay Goldring, PhD, Rutgers University (Safety Substantiation)
  • Annie M. Ugurlayan, National Advertising Division, BBB (Claims)

Format: Live Online

Dates: 

  • Monday,November 17, 2025 (1:00pm - 5:00pm ET)
  • Tuesday, November 18, 2025 (1:00pm - 5:00pm ET)
     


Note: in addition to the live online instruction, participants will also receive:

  • A PDF copy of the course slides.
  • 24/7 access to course replay recordings through Friday, December 12, 2025. (Ideal, if you are not able to attend some/all of the live course dates).
  • A certificate of course completion.

About the Instructors

Ameann DeJohn

Founder & CEO, Ameann Beauty

Ameann is a renowned beauty device and clinical testing expert, author, speaker, esthetician, and educator with over two decades of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry. She has launched over 750 products for more than 40 leading brands, ranging from start-ups to established names. Ameann is the founder of Media Lab Science, a pioneering entity in consumer studies and clinical testing, which was acquired by ALS Global, and Clarisma Beauty, a mass-market skincare brand she founded with her daughter and sold in 2023. Her career includes leadership roles as President, Spa Owner, and General Manager. 

Ameann is a sought-after speaker at industry events and contributes to top publications including HAPPI, Cosmetics Design, and Beauty Independent. She has also been featured on industry podcasts as well as CBS, NBC, and FOX as an industry expert. Known for her innovative approach and strategic vision, she continues to influence the beauty industry through her expertise in clinical testing, beauty devices, and business leadership.

Craig Weiss

President, Consumer Product Testing Company

Craig Weiss received a B.S. in biology for Monmouth College, prior to arriving at Consumer Product Testing Co. Craig held technical positions at Del Laboratories, Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals (Proctor and Gamble) and Roxane Laboratories. 

Craig began his career with Consumer Product Testing Co., Inc. as the Vice President of the Product Technology Analysis and Control Division (PTAC), which was comprised of the Microbiology and Analytical Chemistry departments. PTAC, now known as the Analytical Service Division, offers such varied services as water system validations, cleaning validation, production environmental monitoring and routines analysis. 

In 1993 Craig became a corporate Vice President and in 1999 he became the President of Consumer Product Testing Co., Inc. Craig is active in many trade organizations and is a member of ICMAD’s board of directors, serving as treasurer and is the chairman of its technical, regulatory committee. Craig is also a member of the SCC and PCPC serving on its Scientific Advisory Committee. Additionally, Craig sits on numerous international expert panels.

 

About the Guest Speakers

Angela Diesch

Partner, Potomac Law Group

Angela Diesch is a leading attorney and trusted advisor in consumer protection, product labeling, and regulatory compliance, with deep expertise across the cosmetics and over-the-counter (OTC) drug industries. Known for her strategic, business-oriented counsel, Angela represents and advises companies ranging from innovative startups to established global brands, with particular expertise in the natural and organic sectors.

In addition to her legal practice, Angela serves as Chair for multiple industry relevant Joint Committees with NSF International, where she helps guide the development of standards and best practices that shape integrity and transparency in good manufacturing practices, organic in personal care, and product labeling and safety. Her leadership reflects a long-standing commitment to advancing responsible practices across industries regulated by the FDA, FTC, and USDA.

Angela’s legal work encompasses complex commercial and class action litigation, products liability defense, and proactive regulatory guidance under laws such as the Organic Foods Production Act, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act, and the Consumer Product Safety Act, as well as the web of states' laws around ingredient restrictions, Prop 65, and Extender Producer Responsibility laws. Recognized for her deep expertise in marketing and labeling claims—including “organic,” “natural,” “sustainable,” and “Made in USA”—Angela is a sought-after voice at the intersection of law, innovation, and consumer trust.

Jay Goldring, PhD

Graduate Director, Rutgers University

Jay Goldring, Ph.D., has over 40 years’ experience in quality, safety and regulatory compliance programs in government and the pharmaceutical, food and consumer products industries. He was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at the Rutgers Professional Science Master’s Program in July 2023 and Graduate Director in June 2024. He currently teaches courses in Cosmetic Quality, Safety and Regulation, Product Development and co-teaches the PSM Capstone Course. Dr. Goldring earned his bachelor’s degree at Columbia University, and a Master of Science in Public Health and Doctorate of Toxicology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He has served in leadership positions in the Personal Care Products Council, the cosmetics industry trade association, and the Walmart Sustainability Consortium.

Most recently Dr. Goldring led the quality, safety and regulatory affairs function at Supergoop!, a small sunscreen brand. Previously he held similar roles at several cosmetic manufacturers including Avon and L’Oreal; the food ingredients division of National Starch and Chemical and the pharmaceutical manufacturers Wyeth and Schering-Plough. Prior to joining industry, he served as lead toxicologist with the Wisconsin Health Department investigating the health effects of air pollution and hazardous waste disposal. He also taught public health and toxicology courses at University of Wisconsin, the former University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ; now Rutgers Medical School) and Jefferson University in Philadelphia where, through a continued affiliation, he conducts research on childhood lead exposure.

Annie M. Ugurlayan

Assistant Director, National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs

Since joining NAD in 2003, Annie has written hundreds of decisions and successfully argued appeals to the NARB. She oversees monitoring and compliance cases and case management at NAD. Annie is also a frequent lecturer at conferences nationwide and abroad, particularly on cosmetics advertising on which has developed an expertise, and a published author. She serves as Chair of the Advertising Disputes and Litigation Committee of the ABA’s Section of Antitrust Law and Co-Chair of the Domestic Violence Committee of the Armenian Bar Association. She is a graduate of Hamilton College (B.A., magna cum laude) and the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.