METHOXYETHANOL
METHOXYETHANOL is banned in cosmetics within the EU under Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Review the regulatory details and recent Safety Gate alerts.
Regulatory status as of 2026-08-28 (per the CosIng database).
About the ingredient
Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether
EU regulatory status
Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: II/665 CMR1b (Reprotoxic 1B)
Source: the European Commission's official CosIng database and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products. How we assess ingredients — full methodology.
- View the entry in the CosIng database (European Commission)
- Open Regulation 1223/2009 in EUR-Lex
- Check the chemical profile in PubChem
Last updated:
Functions in cosmetics
Frequently asked questions
Is METHOXYETHANOL safe in cosmetics?
METHOXYETHANOL is banned in the EU under Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and may not be used in cosmetics placed on the EU market. Cosmetics containing this substance are withdrawn by national inspectorates and reported to the EU Safety Gate database.
In which annex of Regulation 1223/2009 is METHOXYETHANOL listed?
METHOXYETHANOL is listed under reference II/665 CMR1b (Reprotoxic 1B) in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. The first part (Roman numeral) indicates the annex: II – prohibited substances, III – substances restricted by conditions, IV – permitted colorants, V – permitted preservatives, VI – permitted UV filters.
What functions does METHOXYETHANOL perform in cosmetics?
According to the European Commission's CosIng database, METHOXYETHANOL performs the following functions in cosmetics: SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING. Functions are defined in the CosIng glossary and describe the technological role of a substance in the finished product.
Are there Safety Gate alerts concerning METHOXYETHANOL?
Our copy of the EU Safety Gate database currently contains no alerts linking METHOXYETHANOL to a cosmetic recall. The database is refreshed regularly from the European Commission's official Safety Gate system.