Toothpaste containing Diethylene glycol (DEG)

DEG is a toxic substance used by some overseas manufacturers as a replacement for glycerine in toothpaste.  Medium to long-term exposure to DEG at significant levels may create unacceptable health risks.

On this page:

• Hazards
• Ban
• Does this apply to your business?
• Complying with the ban
• Penalties and consequences

Hazards

Serious illnesses

Reported instances of serious illness have occurred following the ingestion of DEG in pharmaceutical preparations such as cough syrup.  Children or individuals with kidney or liver disease are at particular risk of illness from ingesting DEG, as DEG poisoning may cause kidney and liver failure.

Some symptoms of DEG poisoning include:

• diarrhoea
• vomiting
• fever
• convulsions
• inability to pass urine
• renal failure
• kidney failure
• liver failure.

Ban

Consumer Protection Notice No. 4 of 2009 prescribes requirements of this ban. This ban came into effect on 12 March 2009.

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Does this apply to your business?

Under the ACL supply includes:

• in relation to goods - (including re-supply) by way of sale, exchange, lease, hire or hire-purchase and
• in relation to services - provide, grant of confer. 

This ban applies to anyone in the business of supplying toothpaste containing DEG, including:

• manufacturers
• importers
• distributors
• retailers
• hirers.

Complying with the ban

For complete information about the ban on toothpaste containing DEG, we strongly advise you to read Consumer Protection Notice No. 4 of 2009.

Penalties and consequences

Suppliers can face heavy fines and recalls of non-compliant products if they trade in these banned products. For more details, view Penalties and consequences.