What does Glycine do?

Used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning agent, a hair conditioner and an antistatic agent.

High concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

beauty
cleaning
food
industrial

Glycine

CAS 18875-39-3 · 60/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 10 other CAS numbers

25718-94-9 · 52955-63-2 · 57678-19-0 · 87867-94-5 · 848646-45-7 · 1119449-36-3 · 1153953-88-8 · 1173020-11-5 · 1196157-78-4 · 56-40-6

Concern score

60/100High concern based on regulatory listings.

High confidence

Glycine in plain language

What it is: Also known as Aminoacetic acid · 2-aminoacetic acid · Glycocoll · Aminoethanoic acid · Acetic acid, amino- · Aciport
Show all 22 names
Amino-acetic acid · Aminoazijnzuur · Amitone · GLY (IUPAC abbrev) · Glycolixir · Glicina · Glicoamin · Glycosthene · Glyzin · Hampshire glycine · Leimzucker · Padil · Sucre de gelatine · glicina-sulfato de hierro (1:1) · glycine (aminoacetic acid) · glycinum
What it does: Used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning agent, a hair conditioner and an antistatic agent.
Skin conditioning
Hair conditioning
Antistatic
Buffering
Flavouring agent
Antioxidant
Is it a concern?: High concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 666 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care, Laboratory supplies, Specialty occupational products.

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

No restrictions found. Glycine appears in these published regulatory listings.

In marketed US drugs
Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Beauty
Cleaning
Pharma
Food
Industrial

USFDAinactive ingredient database20 entries — 7 administration routes
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 200 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 3.76 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, LYOPHILIZED, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 200 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Potency: 0.42 %w/vSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Maximum daily exposure: 62 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, DELAYED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 50 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: POWDER, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 0.09 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: POWDER, FOR SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 400 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 50 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 163.31 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, CHEWABLE; Maximum daily exposure: 267 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; Maximum daily exposure: 60 mgSource →
- Route: RESPIRATORY (INHALATION); Dosage form: POWDER; Maximum daily exposure: 2 mgSource →
- Route: SUBCUTANEOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 0.5 mgSource →
- Route: SUBCUTANEOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, LYOPHILIZED, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 10 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION; Maximum daily exposure: 68 mgSource →
- Route: INTRADERMAL; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 0.5 mgSource →
- Route: DENTAL; Dosage form: PASTE, DENTIFRICE; Potency: 0.34 %w/wSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTABLE, LIPOSOMAL; Potency: 0.38 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 40 mgSource →
EUEFSAEFSA opinion3 entries
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of the use of amino acids (chemical group 34) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 79, (FGE.79). Consideration of amino acids and related substances evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to amino acids from chemical group 34 evaluated by EFSA in FGE.26Rev1 (2008). Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (EFSA AFC)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 401 (FGE.401): gamma-Glutamyl-valyl-glycine from chemical group 34 (EFSA CEF)Source →
EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
- Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.Source →
GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
- JECFA evaluation record.Source →
GLOBALJECFANo safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agentJECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 666 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care, Laboratory supplies, Specialty occupational products. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Anti-static agent, Softener and conditioner, pH regulating agent.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 666 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care, Laboratory supplies, Specialty occupational products. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Anti-static agent, Softener and conditioner, pH regulating agent.Source →
USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 62 active drug products and 62 total products.
- FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 62 active drug products and 62 total products.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of the use of amino acids (chemical group 34) when used as flavourings for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2014 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 79, (FGE.79). Consideration of amino acids and related substances evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to amino acids from chemical group 34 evaluated by EFSA in FGE.26Rev1 (2008). Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (EFSA AFC)
  2008 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 401 (FGE.401): gamma-Glutamyl-valyl-glycine from chemical group 34 (EFSA CEF)
  2014 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
- JECFA evaluation record.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Glycine yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

10 data sources

Where this comes from

CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated September 2018
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
Open →
FDA National Drug Code Directory
regulatory · updated 2027-12-31
Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
Open →
PubChem Live Enrichment
chemistry · updated 2026-05-17
Open →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed Glycine in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

666

Named organisations

Cleaning products and household careLaboratory suppliesSpecialty occupational productsFood and drugFurniture and furnishingsPersonal care

Typical roles

Skin conditioningHair conditioningAntistaticBufferingFlavouring agentAntioxidant

See products using Glycine →

Catalog

Found in these products

Cosmetic and personal-care products that list Glycine are shown first. Their ingredient lists include Glycine; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 358 →Find products without it →