Poor Preservative Sensitization Data

Quaternium-15

INCI: QUATERNIUM-15

CAS Number
51229-78-8
Function
Preservative (antimicrobial, biocide)
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status prohibited
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted in the US; no federal ban. Consumer backlash driving brand self-restriction. Formaldehyde releaser — sensitization risk for formaldehyde-allergic individuals.

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Sensitization Profile

Contact sensitization data for Quaternium-15 based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.

Sensitization Rate
moderate
Allergen Class
preservative
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
1.5%
Cross-reactivity Group
formaldehyde-releaser-group
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis

Source: ESSCA 2019/20; IVDK; FDA

Expert Verdict

Quaternium-15 is specifically banned in EU cosmetic products under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 Annex II as a formaldehyde-releasing preservative. Still permitted in the US but consumer backlash has driven most brands to eliminate it. Formaldehyde contamination from packaging has been reported even when not labeled. Avoid in all new formulations.

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

preservative eu-banned formaldehyde-releaser contact-allergen banned-eu us-permitted avoid eu_banned_cosmetics eu_cosing_listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Quaternium-15 safe in cosmetics?

Quaternium-15 is specifically banned in EU cosmetic products under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 Annex II as a formaldehyde-releasing preservative. Still permitted in the US but consumer backlash has driven most brands to eliminate it. Formaldehyde contamination from packaging has been reported even when not labeled. Avoid in all new formulations. The EU classifies Quaternium-15 as "prohibited". Safety rating: POOR.

Is Quaternium-15 allowed in the EU?

Quaternium-15 EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Quaternium-15 do in cosmetics?

Quaternium-15 functions as: Preservative (antimicrobial, biocide). It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 51229-78-8.

What is the Margin of Safety for Quaternium-15?

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 Quaternium-15 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
 🧪
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
 🧮
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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