RH-POLYPEPTIDE-16
RH-POLYPEPTIDE-16 is banned in cosmetics in the EU — Annex II, entry 416 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Review the regulatory details and Safety Gate alerts.
Regulatory status as of 2026-08-28 (per the CosIng database).
About the ingredient
rh-Polypeptide-16 is a homodimeric, recombinant, non-glycosylated, peptide, produced using the human gene for Placental Growth Factor-1 containing a one base mutation by fermentation in E. coli. This oligopeptide contains 125 amino acids and is composed of: methionine, leucine, proline, alanine, valine, glutamine, tryptophan, serine, glycine, glycine, asparagine, glutamic acid, phenylalanine, arginine, tyrosine, cysteine, aspartic acid, histidine, threonine, lysine, isoleucine
EU regulatory status
Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: II/416
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 RH-POLYPEPTIDE-16 safe in cosmetics?
RH-POLYPEPTIDE-16 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 Cosmetics containing this substance are withdrawn by national inspectorates and reported to the EU Safety Gate database.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 RH-POLYPEPTIDE-16 listed?
RH-POLYPEPTIDE-16 is listed under reference II/416 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 RH-POLYPEPTIDE-16 perform in cosmetics?
According to the European Commission's CosIng database, RH-POLYPEPTIDE-16 performs the following functions in cosmetics: SKIN CONDITIONING. 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 RH-POLYPEPTIDE-16?
Our copy of the EU Safety Gate database currently contains no alerts linking RH-POLYPEPTIDE-16 to a cosmetic recall. The database is refreshed regularly from the European Commission's official Safety Gate system.