PEG-90/POLYEPSILON CAPROLACTONE
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 20222
- Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own (Annex III)
PEG-90/POLYEPSILON CAPROLACTONE: Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own (Annex III, entry 186), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Annexes of the Regulation consulted on 21 October 2026.
Who it concerns
What official classifications and rules say for each group. A classification describes the hazard of the pure substance, not the risk of a product that contains it, which depends on the dose and the exposure.
Prohibition or serious classificationThe text prohibits the substance for this use, or ranks it among the most serious hazards (known or presumed carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic, identified endocrine disruptor).Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
No classification harmonised by the European Union covers reproduction, the unborn child or breastfeeding for this substance. This does not mean it has been judged to have no effect during pregnancy.
Babies and children
The Cosmetics Regulation sets no age-related condition for this ingredient.
Skin, eyes and allergies
No official classification for sensitisation, irritation or eye damage, and no obligation to label it as an allergen.
Environment
No harmonised classification as hazardous to the aquatic environment, and it is not on ECHAEuropean Chemicals Agency.'s Candidate List as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
Read on the label
The Cosmetics Regulation requires no warning to be printed for this ingredient.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Emulsifying (surfactant): promotes the formation of intimate mixtures of non-miscible liquids by altering the interfacial tension.
Humectant: holds and retains moisture.
Cleansing (surfactant): helps to keep the body surface clean.
Functions declared in the CosIngThe European Commission's database of cosmetic ingredients. inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Definitions of functions (decision repealed on 8 May 2020, cited for information). Decision 2006/257/EC, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (definitions of functions), retrieved 22 October 2026.
What the rules say
This name is only cited as an example in an entry of Annex III, which covers a family of substances: the exact conditions depend on the form used.
CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
The text of the annexes
Allowed with restrictions
CosIng cites the name PEG-90/POLYEPSILON CAPROLACTONE in this entry, whose regulated name is “DIETHYLENE GLYCOL”: the title below says which form or use it covers.
- Product type
- As traces in ingredients
- Maximum concentration
- 0.1%
- Entry
- Annex III, No 186
- Substance
- 2,2'-oxydiethanol Diethylene glycol (DEG)
- Glossary names
- DIETHYLENE GLYCOL
- CAS
- 111-46-6
- EC
- 203-872-2
Dates in the act (2)
- Entry into force on 15 May 2013
- Application from 11 July 2013
It shall apply from 11 July 2013.
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III, entry 186. CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 21 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Entry from Regulation (EU) n° 344/2013, adopted on 4 April 2013.
SCCSEU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: it assesses cosmetic ingredients. opinions cited: Opinion on Diethylene glycol (DEG).
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 57523
- Declared functions
- Surfactant: emulsifying, Humectant, Surfactant: cleansing
CosIng cites no CAS number for this name.
CosIng inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
EU product alerts (Safety Gate)
15 alerts on cosmetic products cite this name in their hazard description. An alert targets a specific product, not the ingredient itself. Under each alert, its reason (prohibited substance, limit exceeded, missing labelling, and so on), as published.
The 10 most recent are listed below. All alerts.
- 10 December 2021: Cream, GORGIQUE, France (“Serious risk”) alert
The product contains an excessive amount of diethylene glycol (DEG) (measured value 4.9% by weight). Diethylene glycol can be lethal as it can harm kidneys, reproduction and the development of the unborn child. The product does not comply with the Cosmetic… - 22 March 2019: Hair colouring cream, V.B. DR. SAM, France (“Serious risk”) alert
The product contains an excessive amount of diethylene glycol (DEG). Diethylene glycol can be lethal as it can harm kidneys, reproduction and the development of the unborn child. The product does not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation. - 9 May 2008: Toothpaste - Junior Fluoride toothpaste with free toothbrush, DENTA-KLEEN, Cyprus (“Serious risk”) alert
The product poses a chemical risk because it contains 4.39% of diethylene glycol (DEG), which may pose a health risk to consumers.
7 other alerts
- 9 May 2008: Toothpaste - Kid´s Gel, DENTA-KLEEN, Cyprus (“Serious risk”) alert
The product poses a chemical risk because it contains 3.48% diethylene glycol (DEG), which may pose a health risk to consumers. - 15 February 2008: Toothpaste - Dental Doctor - Natural Mint Fragrance - Toothpaste - Fresh Confidence - Maximum Cavity Protection, Colgret – Dulibang Xiamen, China., Belgium (“Serious risk”) alert
The product poses a chemical risk because:- it contains diethylene glycol (DEG) (1.64%), which may constitute a risk to the consumer,- the colouring CI 16036 (see ingredients) is not in the list of colourings approved for cosmetic products under the Cosmetics… - 15 February 2008: Toothpaste, Crust, Belgium (“Serious risk”) alert
The product poses a risk of poisoning because it contains 1.87% by weight of diethylene glycol (DEG), which may pose a health risk to consumers. - 25 January 2008: Toothpaste, Dr. Cool, Germany (“Serious risk”) alert
The product poses a chemical risk because it contains 3.5 g/100 g of diethylene glycol (DEG). In view of the product's intended use, as well as the fact that it will probably be used by young children, the toothpaste's DEG content leads to it being considered… - 21 September 2007: Toothpaste, MR. COOL, Spain (“Serious risk”) alert
This product poses a risk of poisoning because it contains 1.1% of diethylene glycol (DEG), which may pose a health risk to consumers. - 21 September 2007: Toothpaste, ACTIVE, Spain (“Serious risk”) alert
This product poses a risk of poisoning because the toothpaste contains 4.4% of diethylene glycol (DEG), which may pose a health risk to consumers. - 14 September 2007: Toothpaste, TERPAN, France (“Serious risk”) alert
The product poses a risk of poisoning because it contains between 6.3% and 7.1% of diethylene glycol (DEG). Diethylene glycol is toxic if ingested, especially for young children.
Safety Gate, EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products: cosmetic alerts from the weekly reports, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Source: European Commission, Safety GateEU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products. weekly reports (CC0).
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions, with no effect on sale in France. What is covered, and what is not yet.
Comparison between countries
Most restrictive status in each country, and the maximum concentration cited. The details and the source of each rule follow.
| Country | Rule | Maximum concentration cited |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own | not cited |
| United Kingdom | Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own | not cited |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | not cited |
| United States (federal) | No federal rule recorded | not cited |
| Japan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| South Korea | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| China | Not on the prohibited lists recorded (lists of allowed substances are not recorded) | not cited |
| Australia | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Brazil | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own (Annex III)
Same entries as in the European Union. Their maximum concentrations are compared in the “Comparison between countries” table; other conditions (product types, warnings) may differ.
Annexes II to VI in force. United Kingdom, Annexes II to VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as retained and amended, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Northern Ireland applies EU law.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
Switzerland, FDHA Ordinance on Cosmetic Products (OCos, SR 817.023.31), consolidated version, retrieved 22 October 2026.
United States, federal rules
None of the integrated sections of the federal code (21 CFR 700.11 to 700.27 and 250.250) targets this name. The FDA does not publish a list of allowed ingredients.
United States, 21 CFR part 700 and section 250.250 (FDA rules on cosmetic ingredients), eCFR, retrieved 21 October 2026.
The eCFR is not an official legal edition of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.