Regulatory Status
For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Agar. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | 1140 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 30000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 10000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 15000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Chronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 15000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Chronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 25000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 6000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rabbit | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 15000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 650 mg/kg bw/day | oral | hamster | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 1570 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
Expert Verdict
Thermostable natural gelling agent from red algae with agarose-dominant structure providing firm gel textures and excellent safety profile, suitable for moisturizers, cleansers, deodorants, and preferred for COSMOS/ECOCERT formulations as a synthetic polymer alternative.
Regulatory Flags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Agar safe in cosmetics?
Thermostable natural gelling agent from red algae with agarose-dominant structure providing firm gel textures and excellent safety profile, suitable for moisturizers, cleansers, deodorants, and preferred for COSMOS/ECOCERT formulations as a synthetic polymer alternative. The EU classifies Agar as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Is Agar allowed in the EU?
Agar EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Agar do in cosmetics?
Agar functions as: Binder, Thickening Agent, Gelling Agent, Film Former. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 9002-18-0.
What is the Margin of Safety for Agar?
adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.
What is the NOAEL for Agar?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Agar is 1140 mg/kg bw/day based on a Developmental study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Compliance Tools
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