VA/Crotonates Copolymer

Safety Information

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes VA/crotonates copolymer on its list of indirect food additives. It may be used as a component of coatings for use as food contact surface of films intended for food packaging.

Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety

The safety of VA/crotonates copolymer has been assessed by the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety. The Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that VA/crotonates copolymer was safe as a cosmetic ingredient. In 2003, as part of the scheduled re-evaluation of ingredients, the Expert Panel considered available new data on VA/crotonates copolymer and reaffirmed the above conclusion.

An aqueous solution containing 3.7% VA/crotonates copolymer and a hair spray containing 13.75% of the ingredient were relatively harmless when administered in single oral doses of up to 50 ml/kg and 5 g/kg, respectively.

These same test materials elicited no skin irritation and minimal, transient eye irritation. Hair spray formulations containing 0.86% of the copolymer caused no skin irritation or sensitization when tested in a repeated insult patch test on humans. On the basis of the available information, VA/crotonates copolymer was considered safe as a cosmetic ingredient.

VA/Crotonates copolymer may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Resources

VA/Crotonates Copolymer

What Is It?

VA/Crotonates copolymer, also called vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymer, is a polymer of vinyl acetate and one or more monomers consisting of crotonic acid or any of its simple esters. It occurs as fine transparent beads. In cosmetics and personal care products, VA/crotonates copolymer is used primarily in the formulation of hair sprays, wave sets and other hair care products.

Why Is It Used?

VA/Crotonates copolymer dries to form a thin coating on the skin, hair, or nails. It helps hair hold its shape by inhibiting the hair’s ability to absorb moisture.

Scientific Facts

VA/Crotonates copolymer, is a synthetic polymer prepared from relatively small chemical compounds called monomers. This copolymer is a large molecule composed of vinyl acetate and crotonic acid or its simple esters.