About us
Our Mission:
At The Agyekum Group (Aᴳ), we are dedicated to ensuring the safety and efficacy of personal care, consumer and cosmetic products through rigorous toxicological and sustainability analysis and expert consultation.
Who We Are:
With a wealth of experience in toxicology, sustainability and product formulations, we partner with personal care and cosmetic brands, ingredient manufacturers, and regulatory bodies to deliver solutions that prioritize consumer health and safety.
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Independent Toxicology & Safety Assessment for Personal Care Products
Aᴳ provides independent toxicology and risk assessment services for cosmetic and personal care products across all categories—from daily-use essentials to prestige formulations.
Our work supports brands, retailers, and product teams by delivering science-based safety evaluations, clear risk interpretation, and defensible documentation aligned with global regulatory expectations.
Scope of Services
✔ Ingredient & Formula-Level Toxicology
✔ Safety evaluation of cosmetic ingredients, mixtures, and finished formulations
✔ Review of known and emerging hazards including irritation, sensitization, and systemic toxicity
✔ Assessment of cumulative exposure across product categories and use patterns
Exposure & Margin of Safety Analysis
✔ Quantitative exposure modeling for rinse-off and leave-on products
✔ Margin of Safety (MoS) determinations using established toxicological benchmarks
✔ Consideration of frequency, duration, and vulnerable population exposure
Regulatory & Risk Alignment
✔ Support for U.S. and international cosmetic frameworks
✔ Evaluation of compliance with ingredient restrictions and use conditions
✔ Science-based interpretation of regulatory requirements without overstatement
✔ Claims & Substantiation Support
✔ Assessment of safety-related claims and product positioning
✔ Scientific rationale to support internal review and external scrutiny
✔ Clear documentation suitable for legal, regulatory, and brand teams
Ingestibles and Supplements
Independent toxicology and exposure-based risk assessment for ingestible products
As beauty and wellness portfolios expand into ingestibles, scientific defensibility, exposure-based safety, and retailer-ready governance are essential.
Aᴳ provides independent toxicological assessment and risk evaluation for dietary supplements and ingestible wellness products. Our work supports brand submissions, retailer standards, and internal decision-making with clear, defensible scientific rationale.
Designed to support retailer standards, brand submissions, and defensible internal decision-making.
Scope of Services
✔ Ingredient-Level Toxicology Review
✔ Active ingredients, excipients, botanicals, bioactives, flavors, and processing aids
✔ Identification of known, suspected, and emerging toxicological concerns
✔ Evaluation of cumulative exposure and sensitive populations
✔ Oral Exposure & Margin of Safety Analysis
✔ Exposure modeling based on serving size, frequency, and intended use
✔ Margin of Safety (MoS) calculations using NOAEL, LOAEL, TTC, and benchmark dose data
✔ Identification of ingredients approaching conservative safety thresholds
Contaminant & Impurity Risk Context
✔ Scientific interpretation of heavy metals, solvents, residuals, and processing contaminants
✔ Risk-based context for trace findings vs. actionable concern
✔ Support for data-driven decisions beyond pass/fail lab results
Claims & Population Considerations
✔ Pregnancy-adjacent, breastfeeding-adjacent, hormone-active, and youth-adjacent ingredients
✔ Science-based guidance to support responsible claims boundaries
✔ Alignment with retailer expectations for ingestible marketing integrity
✔ Retailer-Ready Documentation
✔ Independent toxicology opinions suitable for merchant, sustainability, and legal review
Clear risk categorization:
✔ Low Concern | Requires Clarification | Reformulation Recommended | Not Aligned
✔ Consistent methodology designed to integrate with existing submission platforms
✔ Our assessments are structured to enable scalable, repeatable ingestibles governance without requiring retailers to own the underlying scientific liability.
Ingredient Safety & Sustainability
Ingredient Safety & Hazard Review
Science-Driven Ingredient Evaluation and Responsible Sourcing Oversight
Aᴳ provides independent assessment of ingredient safety, sourcing integrity, and sustainability considerations across personal care, beauty, and wellness products. Our approach centers on toxicological rigor, ingredient transparency, and practical risk evaluation, supporting informed decision-making throughout product development and lifecycle management.We evaluate ingredients not only for regulatory acceptability, but for long-term safety, supply chain responsibility, and alignment with evolving consumer and retailer expectations.
Scope of Services
✔ Ingredient Safety & Hazard Review
✔ Evaluation of individual raw materials, blends, and functional components
✔ Identification of toxicological concerns including sensitization, irritation, systemic exposure, and emerging hazards
✔ Review of restricted, monitored, or controversial substances
Risk-Based Ingredient Screening
✔ Science-driven prioritization of higher-risk materials
✔ Support for ingredient substitution and reformulation strategies
✔ Documentation to support internal decision-making and external review
✔ Regulatory & Stakeholder Alignment
✔ Interpretation of ingredient safety expectations across global markets
✔ Support for internal governance, supplier communication, and retailer inquiries
✔ Clear documentation designed for cross-functional teams
Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MOCRA) Compliance
MOCRA
The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MOCRA) is transforming the cosmetic industry by establishing stricter safety, manufacturing, and reporting requirements for personal care products in the U.S. At The Agyekum Group, we help brands, ingredient suppliers, and manufacturers navigate these new FDA regulations with expert MOCRA compliance consulting, product safety assessments, and regulatory submissions.
Our MOCRA services include:
✔ Safety Substantiation – Ensuring your cosmetic formulations meet the new FDA safety and documentation requirements.
✔ Adverse Event Reporting – Developing compliant systems for mandatory reporting of serious adverse events.
✔ Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Compliance – Aligning your manufacturing processes with FDA-enforced GMP standards.
✔ Labeling and Registration Support – Assisting with product listing, facility registration, and labeling compliance.
✔ Toxicology & Risk Assessments – Conducting thorough ingredient safety reviews to comply with MOCRA’s safety substantiation standards.
As the MOCRA enforcement deadline approaches, we ensure your brand remains compliant, mitigating risks and streamlining regulatory processes. Stay ahead of evolving FDA cosmetic regulations with expert guidance from The Agyekum Group.
PROP 65 COMPLIANCE
PROP 65 Compliance and Litigation Support
California’s Proposition 65 (Prop 65) requires businesses to warn consumers if their products contain chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm. This regulation applies to a wide range of consumer goods, including cosmetics, personal care products, food, beverages, household items, electronics, furniture, textiles, and industrial products. Non-compliance can result in hefty fines, legal action, and restrictions in the California market. At Aᴳ, we help manufacturers, retailers, and distributors navigate Prop 65 regulations to ensure their products meet California’s stringent safety and labeling requirements.
Our Prop 65 Compliance Services:
✔ Toxicological Risk Assessments – Evaluating chemical exposure risks across all consumer product categories.
✔ Safe Harbor Level Analysis – Determining whether a product’s chemical content exceeds allowable exposure limits.
✔ Ingredient & Material Reviews – Helping reformulate or reduce Prop 65-listed chemicals to minimize compliance risks.
✔ Warning Label Compliance – Ensuring packaging, websites, and marketing materials meet California Prop 65 warning requirements.
✔ Regulatory Guidance & Legal Support – Assisting with Prop 65 enforcement actions, defense strategies, and settlements.
Whether you manufacture, distribute, or sell products in California, Prop 65 compliance is crucial to avoiding penalties and protecting your brand’s reputation. Let us guide you through compliance with expert regulatory consulting and scientific risk assessment services.
PFAS Consultation
Expert PFAS Consulting for Manufacturers
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present growing regulatory, legal, and operational challenges for industrial manufacturers. Aᴳ provides specialized PFAS consulting services to help businesses navigate compliance, mitigate liability, and implement sustainable alternatives.
1. Regulatory Compliance & Reporting
- Guidance on evolving PFAS regulations (EPA, EU REACH, U.S. state laws).
- Assistance with TSCA reporting, chemical inventories, and disclosure requirements.
2. Supply Chain & Product Risk Assessment
- PFAS screening for raw materials, finished products, and packaging.
- Supplier audits to identify contamination risks.
3. Remediation & Waste Management
- PFAS contamination testing and site remediation strategies.
- Wastewater/PFAS discharge compliance support.
4. Litigation & Liability Mitigation
- Expert witness services for PFAS-related lawsuits.
- Proactive risk management to reduce legal exposure.
5. Sustainable Alternatives
- Research and transition planning for PFAS-free materials
"Empowering brands with science-backed insights"
why choose us
Expertise You Can Rely On
With years of global product safety experience, we provide authoritative insights that help brands innovate safely.
Tailored Solutions for Your Needs
Whether you're a small indie brand or a global cosmetics leader, we offer bespoke services to meet your goals.
Commitment to Consumer Safety
Our priority is ensuring that every product meets the highest safety standards to build consumer trust.
We collaborate with accredited laboratories, technology providers, and industry experts to deliver scientifically rigorous, defensible solutions across regulated product categories.
MEET THE TEAM
Augustine Agyekum PhD
Damani parran PhD MBA DABT
Damani parran PhD MBA DABT
Aᴳ is led by a principal toxicologist with more than 20 years of experience in cosmetic, personal care, and ingestible product safety assessment. Dr. Agyekum has advised brands, ingredient manufacturers, and regulatory stakeholders worldwide and has contributed to FDA- and NSF-aligned cosmetic ingredient review activities, delivering expe
Aᴳ is led by a principal toxicologist with more than 20 years of experience in cosmetic, personal care, and ingestible product safety assessment. Dr. Agyekum has advised brands, ingredient manufacturers, and regulatory stakeholders worldwide and has contributed to FDA- and NSF-aligned cosmetic ingredient review activities, delivering expert toxicological risk assessments grounded in U.S., EU, and global regulatory frameworks.
Professional Expertise:
Dr. Agyekum specializes in toxicological risk assessment for cosmetic, personal care, and ingestible products, ensuring alignment with FDA, EU Cosmetic Regulation, and other applicable international regulatory standards.
Damani parran PhD MBA DABT
Damani parran PhD MBA DABT
Damani parran PhD MBA DABT
Dr. Damani Parran is a seasoned toxicologist with a strong foundation in public health and regulatory science. With extensive experience in toxicological risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and scientific consulting, Dr. Parran plays a pivotal role in guiding organizations through complex safety and regulatory challenges.
Dr. Parran’s
Dr. Damani Parran is a seasoned toxicologist with a strong foundation in public health and regulatory science. With extensive experience in toxicological risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and scientific consulting, Dr. Parran plays a pivotal role in guiding organizations through complex safety and regulatory challenges.
Dr. Parran’s expertise spans diverse industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products. His dedication to advancing public health through science-based decision-making ensures that clients of The Agyekum Group receive tailored, actionable insights to achieve their goals.