The European Committee for Standardisation has confirmed the appointment of Gustavo Adrian Defeo FSLTC as head of CEN TC 289, the European committee responsible for defining standards for leather. With 14 votes in favour, the decision became effective on 9 June 2026 and marks the beginning of a six-year term. Within this framework, Defeo assumes the CEN presidency, a role with significant implications for quality, safety, sustainability and competitiveness within a key European industry. It is a mandate that already highlights clearly defined objectives.
Defeo takes over the CEN presidency
Defeo’s appointment comes at a time when leather standardisation requires scientific continuity and strong international coordination. An Italian-Argentinian chemist with 42 years of experience, Defeo brings a widely recognised technical profile: he is a member of the Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists, as well as a consultant, researcher and specialist in colour physics. He succeeds Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano, a long-standing figure within the industry. And takes over leadership of the committee with a mandate aimed at strengthening regulatory consistency across Europe. The new president will not be starting from scratch. Already head of Working Group 7, established through the merger of the commissions dedicated to physical, mechanical and fastness testing, he also coordinates the corresponding IUF and IUP commissions within ISO/IULTCS. This dual role allows him to align European work with international developments, reducing overlaps and accelerating the updating of testing methods.
The priorities
This work programme defined by CEN TC 289 under Defeo’s presidency will focus on four key areas. The first concerns updating existing standards to reflect developments in tanning chemistry and testing methods. The second aims to strengthen collaboration with ISO/TC 120 in order to ensure a coherent global regulatory framework. The third area concerns sustainability: the committee intends to develop a structured dialogue with CEN TC 411 to strengthen recognition of leather as a bio-based material within the European regulatory framework, in line with Green Deal objectives. Finally, the presidency aims to broaden the involvement of businesses, researchers and public authorities in order to develop standards that respond to the real needs of the supply chain and strengthen European competitiveness.
Read alco:
