Formaldehyde under REACH
CH2O · 甲醛
Status: Restricted. Formaldehyde is fully registered under REACH at the highest tonnage band (>1,000,000 tonnes/year) but **carries the heaviest regulatory burden in the dataset by hazard classification**. **Distinguishing pattern: most hazardous substance in the dataset combining Carc 1B + Muta 2 + Acute Tox. 3 + Skin Corr. 1B + Skin Sens 1 + IARC Group 1.** Reg (EU) 605/2014 (the 6th ATP to CLP, published 6 June 2014) harmonised the Carcinogen Cat 1B + Mutagen Cat 2 classification for formaldehyde; the regulation entered into force in April 2015 with mandatory compliance from 1 January 2016 (verify exact transition end-date against EUR-Lex CELEX 32014R0605 before relying on either). **Annex XVII Restriction 77 (Reg (EU) 2023/1464)** sets EU-wide formaldehyde-emission limits from articles (wood-based panels and other articles) effective 6 August 2026 (vehicle interiors 6 August 2027): emission ceiling 0.062 mg/m^3 for furniture and wood-based articles, 0.080 mg/m^3 for other articles, verified against https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/1464. **Annex XVII Restriction 72 (Reg (EU) 2018/1513)** sets a 75 mg/kg formaldehyde concentration limit in textile articles in skin contact (clothing, accessories, footwear), with a temporary 300 mg/kg derogation for jackets, coats and upholstery that ran 1 November 2020 to 1 November 2023, verified against https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1513. NOT on Annex XIV authorisation list (kept on restricted-not-authorised pathway). NOT SVHC (kept off SVHC despite Carc 1B because of essential industrial use). NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin formaldehyde currently confirmed; verify against EU Official Journal before invoicing.
Formaldehyde carries the **heaviest regulatory burden in the dataset by hazard classification**: Carc 1B + Muta 2 + Acute Tox. 3 + Skin Corr. 1B + Skin Sens 1 + IARC Group 1 (since 2006). The most-imminent practitioner watch-item is **Annex XVII Restriction 77 effective 6 August 2026**: EU-wide formaldehyde-emission limits from articles (wood-based panels, upholstered furniture, mattresses, textiles, leather articles) will reshape EU lane economics from August 2026. Restriction 77 puts pressure all the way back through the supply chain to formaldehyde-resin producers and ultimately to Chinese-origin formaldehyde producers. NOT on SVHC despite Carc 1B (kept off because of essential industrial use). NO active EU AD case. Major Chinese producers: Sinopec Beijing + Sinopec Yanshan, Wansheng Chemical Anhui, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Liuyang Chemical Industrial Park (Hunan), Henan Shenma Industrial Park, Hebei Yan-style cluster. China dominates global capacity (~60-70%, ~30-35 Mt/yr). Major Chinese capacity is increasingly producing low-emission formaldehyde-resin grades for EU export ahead of August 2026.
Listing and threshold
| Substance | Formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0), CH2O |
|---|---|
| Regime | EU Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals |
| Jurisdiction | European Union (EU-27 plus EEA: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) |
| Status | Restricted |
| Tonnage threshold | Registration required for any importer or manufacturer placing >1 t/year on the EU market |
Classifications under this regime
- Harmonised CLP classification: Carc. 1B (H350, "may cause cancer"), Muta. 2 (H341, "suspected of causing genetic defects"), Acute Tox. 3 oral / dermal / inhalation (H301 / H311 / H331), Skin Corr. 1B (H314), Eye Dam. 1 (H318), Skin Sens. 1 (H317, "may cause an allergic skin reaction"), STOT SE 3 (H335 respiratory irritation)
- Signal word: DANGER
- GHS pictograms: GHS05 (corrosion), GHS06 (skull and crossbones), GHS08 (health hazard, carcinogen / mutagen)
- Reg (EU) 605/2014 (6th ATP to CLP, June 2014) harmonised Carc 1B + Muta 2 classification; mandatory compliance from 1 January 2016, verify against EUR-Lex CELEX 32014R0605
- IARC: Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans), classified in IARC Monograph 88 (2006) on the basis of nasopharyngeal cancer association; confirmed in IARC Monograph 100F (2012); verified against https://publications.iarc.who.int/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans/Formaldehyde-2-Butoxyethanol-And-1--Em-Tert-Em--Butoxypropan-2-ol-2006
- NOT subject to Drug Precursors or Explosives Precursors scheduling
- ADR / RID transport classification: Class 8 (corrosive substance), UN 1198 (formaldehyde solutions, flammable), UN 2209 (formaldehyde solutions, with not less than 25% formaldehyde), UN 1199 (depending on flash point), Packing Group III
- WHO Air Quality Guidelines: indoor air formaldehyde exposure limit 0.1 mg/m³ for 30-min average (since 2010)
Restrictions and conditions of use
- NOT on REACH Annex XIV (Authorisation list); kept on restricted-not-authorised pathway
- NOT classified as SVHC despite Carc 1B classification (kept off SVHC list because of essential industrial use, including phenolic resins, MDI / TDI, and pharmaceutical applications)
- **Annex XVII Restriction 77** (Reg 2023/1464 of 14 July 2023): EU-wide formaldehyde-emission limits from articles effective **6 August 2026** for wood-based panels (E1 + emission limit 0.062 mg/m³), upholstered furniture, mattresses (0.062 mg/m³), textiles, leather articles
- **Annex XVII Restriction 72** (Reg (EU) 2018/1513): formaldehyde concentration limit 75 mg/kg in textile articles in skin contact (clothing, accessories, footwear), 300 mg/kg temporary derogation for jackets / coats / upholstery 1 November 2020 to 1 November 2023; verified against https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1513
- **Annex XVII Restriction 28** (Reg 552/2009): formaldehyde >0.05% in finished articles for certain applications
- NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin formaldehyde
- Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): formaldehyde NOT in CBAM Phase 1 scope; potential Phase 2 candidate post-2026 review
- EU Regulation 10/2011 food-contact: formaldehyde concentration limits in plastic materials and articles
- EU Cosmetic Products Regulation 1223/2009: formaldehyde restricted in cosmetic and personal-care products (>0.05% requires disclosure; banned in nail-hardener products at >0.05%)
Importer obligations
A non-EU producer cannot register directly under REACH. The EU importer of record must hold a registration or rely on an Only Representative (OR). The dominant practitioner-facing layer for formaldehyde is **Annex XVII Restriction 77 emission-limit compliance** (effective 6 August 2026): downstream EU furniture, wood-panel, mattress, textile manufacturers must verify formaldehyde-emission limits at finished-article level. This puts pressure all the way back through the supply chain to formaldehyde-resin producers and ultimately to Chinese-origin formaldehyde producers. Major Chinese producers (Sinopec, Wansheng Chemical Anhui, Wanhua Chemical, Liuyang Chemical Industrial Park, Henan Shenma Industrial Park) are increasingly producing low-emission formaldehyde-resin grades for EU export. The dominant economic story is **the post-2026 formaldehyde-emission-limit compliance cost** that will reshape EU lane economics from August 2026 onward.
Required documents
- REACH registration number on the EU side (registrant or OR-appointed)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) compliant with REACH Annex II in destination Member State language(s) reflecting H301 / H311 / H314 / H317 / H318 / H331 / H335 / H341 / H350 classification
- CLP-compliant labelling with GHS05 + GHS06 + GHS08 pictograms and DANGER signal word
- Customs entry with HS code 291211 (formaldehyde solution / formalin)
- ADR consignment note for transport (Class 8, UN 1198 / 2209 / 1199, PG III)
- **Annex XVII Restriction 77 emission-limit conformity declaration** for downstream-finished-article exporters from August 2026
- Annex XVII Restriction 72 textile-emission concentration declaration
- EU Reg 1223/2009 cosmetic-product compliance documentation where applicable
Common compliance traps
The pitfalls that have bitten importers on this lane in the past. None of these is theoretical.
- **Annex XVII Restriction 77 effective 6 August 2026** is the most-imminent practitioner watch-item for formaldehyde. EU-wide formaldehyde-emission limits from articles will reshape lane economics for wood-panel, furniture, mattress, textile categories
- Carc 1B + Muta 2 + Acute Tox. 3 + Skin Corr. 1B + Skin Sens 1 hazard profile drives the heaviest workplace exposure-control overhead in the dataset
- **IARC Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans)** since 2006 IARC Monograph 88, confirmed 2012 IARC Monograph 100F. Notable: only the second IARC Group 1 substance in the dataset (along with TiO2 batch 7 which is IARC Group 2B and EU-Carc-Cat-2-annulled)
- NOT on SVHC list despite Carc 1B classification (kept off SVHC because of essential industrial use; phenolic resins ~15% of demand, MDI / TDI ~12%, urea-formaldehyde resins ~50%)
- NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin formaldehyde (lighter trade-policy posture than caprolactam batch 14)
- NOT in CBAM Phase 1 scope but EU revision may extend to organic chemicals; long-term watch-item
- Major Chinese producers: Sinopec Beijing + Sinopec Yanshan, Wansheng Chemical Anhui, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Liuyang Chemical Industrial Park (Hunan), Henan Shenma Industrial Park, Hebei Yan-style cluster. China dominates global capacity (~60-70%, ~30-35 Mt/yr formaldehyde 37% solution equivalent)
- Coal-fed Chinese formaldehyde production carries higher embedded CO2 vs gas-fed alternatives; CBAM Phase 2 candidate
Where to read next
For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for formaldehyde, see the CAS 50-00-0 sourcing reference.
For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the formaldehyde cornerstone hub covers the full sourcing chain.
For the structure and history of REACH, see the REACH glossary entry.
Need cross-jurisdiction compliance support on this substance? Run it through the REACH / TSCA / IECSC / AICIS / K-REACH checker, or send us the substance and the destination and we will quote FOB China and CIF / DDP landed including the regulatory work on the destination side.
Read next
Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references
Regulatory
Formaldehyde under TSCA
United States of America listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Formaldehyde under IECSC
People's Republic of China listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Formaldehyde under AICIS
Australia listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Formaldehyde under K-REACH
Republic of Korea listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
CAS
CAS 50-00-0 sourcing reference
Identifiers, hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and supplier geography for Formaldehyde.
Glossary
REACH, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
EU chemical regulation requiring importers and manufacturers to register every substance manufactured or imported into the EU above 1 tonne per year. Registration is identity-based and dossier-based, not inventory-lookup-based, which makes it stricter than TSCA in the US.
Referenced in
6 pages across the Sourzi moat
This term shows up in 4 regulatory pages, 1 topic clusters, 1 CAS profiles. Sample backlinks per content type below.
Regulatory (4)
Formaldehyde under TSCA
United States of America compliance profile for Formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde under IECSC
People's Republic of China compliance profile for Formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde under AICIS
Australia compliance profile for Formaldehyde.
Plus 1 more regulatory pages.
Topic cluster (1)
Free download
Free PDF: the same MSDS verification template the Sourzi team uses to cross-reference factory documents against TSCA, REACH, AICIS, and CDR before booking.