Chitosan

INCI: CHITOSAN

CAS Number
9012-76-4
Function
Film Former, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Delivery System, Skin Conditioning
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted in cosmetics; shellfish-derived allergen consideration; no CIR restriction

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Versatile marine-derived biopolymer with unique cationic film-forming and antimicrobial properties; excellent encapsulation vehicle for active delivery; crustacean origin warrants shellfish allergen consideration and supplier transparency.

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Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

heavy_metal_testing_required marine_origin shellfish_allergen_consideration delivery_system_encapsulation antimicrobial_film epa_safer_alternative

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chitosan safe in cosmetics?

Versatile marine-derived biopolymer with unique cationic film-forming and antimicrobial properties; excellent encapsulation vehicle for active delivery; crustacean origin warrants shellfish allergen consideration and supplier transparency. The EU classifies Chitosan as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Chitosan allowed in the EU?

Chitosan EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Chitosan do in cosmetics?

Chitosan functions as: Film Former, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Delivery System, Skin Conditioning. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 9012-76-4.

What is the Margin of Safety for Chitosan?

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.

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