Poor Cosmetic Ingredient

Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE)

INCI: POLYCHLOROTRIFLUOROETHYLENE

CAS Number
9002-83-9
Function
Film former
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status prohibited
🇺🇸 US Status restricted
US Notes CIR Expert Panel deleted PCTFE from their polyfluorinated polymer review because its properties were very different from the group — effectively leaving it with no CIR safety conclusion. FDA flagged significant data gaps for PFAS in cosmetics (MoCRA Section 3506 report, Dec 2025). Banned in California under AB 2771.

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

PFAS forever chemical with environmental persistence and bioaccumulation potential. No CIR safety conclusion. Banned in California under AB 2771. EU PFAS universal restriction anticipated. Do not formulate with this ingredient.

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Concern Level: High

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) safe in cosmetics?

PFAS forever chemical with environmental persistence and bioaccumulation potential. No CIR safety conclusion. Banned in California under AB 2771. EU PFAS universal restriction anticipated. Do not formulate with this ingredient. The EU classifies Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) as "prohibited". Safety rating: POOR.

Is Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) allowed in the EU?

Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) do in cosmetics?

Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) functions as: Film former. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 9002-83-9.

What is the Margin of Safety for Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE)?

not established 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.

Compliance Tools

Check Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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