FOR PHARMACISTS · SCIENTIFIC COLLECTION 10.0310 monographs · 36 SOPs · 22 forms

CGR-BP-010 / EDITION 10.0

Cetomacrogol Emulsifying Wax

Emulsifying wax · United Kingdom · BP

2026-10-14Reference monograph · Local adoption

REFERENCE FORMULA

Reference formula

Reference basis: 1000 g

IngredientSource quantityScaled quantity
Cetostearyl alcohol800 g—
Macrogol cetostearyl ether (22)200 g—

REFERENCE FORMULA SCALING

Proportional quantities of the same formula

Arithmetic aid. It does not change strength, dose, method or BUD and does not authorise compounding.

Scaling

Prerequisite formulations

No separate prerequisite monograph is listed.

Documentation

Preparation description
White to almost white waxy solid. Specific tests in the original. [1]
Action and use
Pharmaceutical base or excipient for incorporation into an appropriate preparation. Compatibility with each active requires separate assessment. [1]
Specifications
White to almost white waxy solid. Specific tests in the original. [1]
Light
Finished-product photostability is not specified. Any required container light protection is stated under Storage. [1]
Air and oxidation
No oxidative stability study of the finished mixture or inert-atmosphere requirement is provided. Use the source container. [1]
Water and solubility
No quantitative hydrolytic stability limit is given for this formula. Retain the prescribed water amount and quality. [1]
Humidity
No numerical relative-humidity limit is given for the finished product. Prevent raw-material wetting and condensation entering the container. [1]
Temperature
No permitted temperature excursion or freeze–thaw cycle is established. Processing and storage temperatures are stated in their respective fields. [1]
pH and compatibility
No pH is assigned to the dry dosage form. Any analytical-extract pH requires the specified method. [1]
Other interactions
No complete compatibility test with added actives or alternative excipients is provided. Substitutions require separate evidence. [1]
Ingredient-specific information
Identity and weighing basis:
• Cetostearyl alcohol: 800 g.
• Macrogol cetostearyl ether (22): 200 g.
The specified chemical forms/grades belong to the exact source formula. [1]
Staff protection
Clean long-sleeved laboratory clothing, hair covering and gloves during handling; change gloves after contamination or damage. [1], [2], [3]
Risk assessment
Reference batch: 1000 g. First ingredient: Cetostearyl alcohol, 800 g. Independently check chemical form, units and every scale conversion before weighing.
As an intermediate, label identity and strength clearly and do not dispense as a finished medicine. Dilution or addition of an active requires new excipient, preservation and BUD calculations. Confirm release of every required base.
For the local assessment record quantity per preparation, work frequency, duration of open handling, potential exposure routes and effectiveness of controls. These are assessment inputs; no fictitious final risk score is assigned.
For this procedure’s heating stage, check thermometer, heating method, duration and prevention of overheating/solvent loss. Completion of mixing does not establish cooling or complete homogenisation.
Release checkpoint: confirm final volume or mass at the reference temperature, intended clarity or dispersion, and specified container/closure. Do not equate grams and millilitres without a justified density.
Contains cetostearyl or cetyl alcohol, which can cause local skin reactions; include components of the selected base in the assessment. [1], [6], [8], [10]
Compounding conditions
Before mixing: verify each ingredient’s chemical form and lot, record theoretical amounts and check equipment cleanliness. Follow the temperatures and addition sequence in the procedure below. [1], [3]
BUD rationale
No specific experimental period was located covering the complete exact formulation, container and microbiological suitability.
Selected general rule: up to 180 days at 20–25 °C for a solid or nonaqueous nonoral-liquid form with supported aw <0.6. Initial quality/moisture, exclusion of water ingress and physical suitability must support this category.
Use-by date = the earliest allowed date from preparation plus selected period, ingredient expiries and any shorter supported limit. In-use dating never extends overall BUD. Complete the actual date for the batch after the required checks.
A default is a conservative dating limit, not experimental proof of batch stability. Its category depends on final composition, preservation and permitted temperatures. Water percentage or loss on drying does not determine aw. Document using SOP-014/F-006; use SOP-017/F-012 for specific aw evidence.
USP clarification: aw measurement is not required for every nonsterile preparation. Category assignment may use the exact composition and relevant representative examples; an uncertain or borderline formulation is best assessed by a suitable specific measurement. This edition contains no measured aw or released batch. The final preparation generally must not outlast the remaining BUD of its compounded bases/intermediates. An exception requires specific justification that physical, chemical and microbiological quality is not adversely affected. Record the final limit, intermediate preparation dates and their actual expiry dates separately. [1], [5], [7], [9]
Prerequisites
No separately registered base is required. Any commercial vehicle remains the exact named product in the formula table. [1]
Equipment
Balance with suitable minimum weight, mortar/pestle or homogeniser, mixing vessels, spatulas, thermometer for heated processes and volumetric equipment for mL quantities. [1]
Compounding method
Melt together and stir until cold. [1]
Observations
Non-ionic wax: not automatically interchangeable with anionic BP wax. [1]
Container and packaging
Selection for local assessment: well-closed dry container suitable for the dosage form. Check cleanliness, integrity, closure and material compatibility before filling. The specific monograph does not validate a particular commercial container. [1]
Quality control
The specific monograph supplies no separate assay. Check starting-material identity/quality and the general pharmacopoeial dosage-form requirements referenced by the source.
Record the method, acceptance criterion, actual result and reviewer separately in F-005. A critical specification failure requires quarantine and investigation under SOP-015; retesting needs justification. [1], [8]
Storage

For a general-rule duration, also apply the temperature of the selected BUD category. The source does not support arbitrary temperature changes. [4]
Dispensing
Intermediate base for compounding. Adding an active requires reassessment of the final composition, pH, preservation and BUD.
Contains cetostearyl or cetyl alcohol, which can cause local skin reactions; include components of the selected base in the assessment. [1], [10]
Labelling
Cetomacrogol Emulsifying Wax
Compounding base — not for direct administration
Quantity: ____ Batch: ____
Prepared: ____ Use by: ____
Patient / dose / frequency: ____
Storage:
Temperature for this batch BUD: ____
Contains cetostearyl or cetyl alcohol, which can cause local skin reactions; include components of the selected base in the assessment. [1], [10]
v9_controls
The numeric value is a literature reference ceiling subject to its specific conditions. No actual batch BUD has been assigned and no aw measurements have been produced. The exact formula, prerequisites, container, storage and quality evidence require approval for the actual application. The BUD clock starts when compounding begins. Use the shortest applicable supported limit and assess in-use dating separately. USP categories are a technical framework and are not presented as Greek legislation.

Independent Greek/English adaptation and organisation of facts from the cited source. This is not an official translation or publisher endorsement.

Sources and references

  1. British Pharmacopoeia 2016 — Cetomacrogol Emulsifying Wax2016PDF pp. 1–2; user-supplied BP extract; URL is publisher catalogue, not the licensed full monographmaster formula2026-09-10
  2. PN/L/PG/002/00 INDUMENTARIAΔιαθέσιμο κείμενο / Retrieved textPDF pp. 1–5general staff protection2026-09-10
  3. ASHP — USP <795> Key Changes2023pp. 1–3: scope, water activity and staff precautionsprofessional guidance; not the licensed USP chapter2026-09-12
  4. Texas State Board of Pharmacy — adopted 22 TAC §291.131, nonsterile compoundingTexas Register, 7 June 2024Beyond-use dating: aw categories, 14/35/90/180 days, limits and extensionspublic regulatory implementation of USP <795> BUD framework; not Greek law2026-09-12
  5. Illinois IDFPR — Nonsterile Compounding Self-Inspection ReportPublic checklist, retrieved 12 September 2026pp. 15–16, Establishing beyond-use datesPublic regulatory implementation of USP <795>; not Greek law; general limits and requirements for extension2026-09-12
  6. NIOSH — Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings2023; DHHS (NIOSH) 2023-130Risk assessment; printed pp. 27–33, activity/formulation control tableWorkplace exposure, hierarchy of controls and activity-specific PPE; US government public-domain document2026-09-12
  7. USP — Compounding Standards and Beyond-Use Dates, 2022 updateNovember 2022, published by USP; public copy hosted by Mississippi Boardpp. 1–2; nonsterile tableRisk-based default categories; not product-specific stability or Greek law2026-09-12
  8. PIC/S — Guide to Good Practices for the Preparation of Medicinal Products in Healthcare EstablishmentsPE 010-4, 1 March 2014Chapters 1–9; Annex 2 (nonsterile liquids, creams, ointments)Professional quality-system framework; not automatic national legal adoption or certification2026-09-12
  9. USP — General Chapter <795> FAQsUpdated 1 November 2023Questions 52, 54–56, 60–62; PDF pp. 11–14Primary clarification of aw classification, extension prerequisites and compounded-component BUDs; not automatic Greek legal adoption2026-10-14
  10. EMA — Excipients in the labelling and package leaflet, Annex Revision 5Published 5 December 2025EN and EL worksheets: arachis oil, wool fat, cetostearyl/cetyl alcohol, chlorocresolCurrent primary excipient warnings; used as a scientific labelling reference, without claiming MAH obligations automatically apply to a compounded prescription2026-10-14