CAS 50-00-0 · TSCA · United States of America

Formaldehyde under TSCA

CH2O · 甲醛

Status: Listed. Formaldehyde is on the TSCA Inventory as a grandfathered pre-1979 substance and is currently listed as TSCA Active. **Active TSCA Section 6 Risk Evaluation**: EPA published the Final Risk Evaluation in 2024 finding "unreasonable risk of injury to health" from formaldehyde under multiple conditions of use; risk-management rule under TSCA Section 6(a) under development with proposed rule expected 2025-2026 and final rule 2026-2027. **Active OSHA Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048** (specific carcinogen standard with PEL 0.75 ppm 8-hr TWA + STEL 2 ppm + Action Level 0.5 ppm). NOT on EPA RMP threshold list. NOT on DEA scheduling. California Proposition 65: formaldehyde (gas) is listed as a Carcinogen effective 1 January 1988 (verify against https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list); earlier dataset drafts also cited a 1991 reproductive-toxicant listing which could not be corroborated against the current OEHHA Prop 65 list, treat the reproductive-toxicant claim as unverified. NOT on TRI Section 313 list (delisted). NO active US AD case on Chinese-origin formaldehyde currently. Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies on Chinese-origin formaldehyde (HS 291211).

The US formaldehyde lane is dominated by **Active TSCA Section 6 Risk Evaluation + impending Section 6(a) risk-management rule** (expected 2026-2027). EPA Final Risk Evaluation 2024 found "unreasonable risk of injury to health"; the forthcoming risk-management rule will be the dominant practitioner watch-item. **OSHA Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048** drives substantial workplace compliance overhead. **Cal Prop 65 "WARNING"** label compliance for consumer products. **EPA TSCA Title VI Composite Wood Products** (40 CFR 770) emission limits apply to finished-article imports. NO active US AD/CVD case. Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies. Major US domestic producers: Hexion, GP Chemicals / Georgia-Pacific Chemicals, Bakelite Synthetics, Arclin. US is comparatively self-sufficient in formaldehyde; Chinese-origin imports flow primarily for downstream resin manufacturing. Finished-article imports (hardwood plywood, MDF, furniture) are more affected by TSCA Title VI emission limits than bulk formaldehyde imports. Both EU lane (Annex XVII Restriction 77 effective August 2026) and US lane (TSCA Section 6 risk-management rule expected 2026-2027) are converging on more-stringent formaldehyde regulation in the same 2026-2027 window.

Listing and threshold

Substance Formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0), CH2O
Regime US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), administered by EPA
Jurisdiction United States of America
Status Listed
Tonnage threshold CDR (Chemical Data Reporting) threshold: 25,000 lb (11,340 kg) manufactured or imported per site per year

Classifications under this regime

  • OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS): GHS H301 / H311 / H314 / H317 / H318 / H331 / H335 / H341 / H350
  • **OSHA Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048** (specific carcinogen standard): PEL 0.75 ppm 8-hr TWA, STEL 2 ppm 15-minute, Action Level 0.5 ppm 8-hr TWA. Verified against https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1048
  • NIOSH REL: 0.016 ppm (10-min ceiling), considered occupational carcinogen
  • **Active TSCA Section 6 Risk Evaluation**: EPA Final Risk Evaluation 2024 finding "unreasonable risk"; risk-management rule under TSCA 6(a) in development
  • NOT currently subject to TSCA Section 5(a)(2) Significant New Use Rule list
  • NOT on EPA RMP threshold list
  • NOT on DEA List I or List II
  • **California Proposition 65 listed**: carcinogen since 1 January 1988 (verified against OEHHA P65 list at https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list); developmental toxicant listing date pending direct OEHHA verification
  • NOT on TRI Section 313 list (delisted)
  • DOT hazardous materials regulation (49 CFR 172.101): UN 1198 / 2209 / 1199, Class 8, PG III
  • **EPA Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products 40 CFR 770** (TSCA Title VI, "California 93120 federal equivalent"): emission limits for hardwood plywood, MDF, particleboard
  • HUD Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards 24 CFR 3280: formaldehyde emission limits
  • IARC: Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans)

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • **Active TSCA Section 6 Risk Evaluation** with risk-management rule under development: proposed rule expected 2025-2026, final rule 2026-2027. Practitioners should track EPA TSCA-IRIS docket and RIN 2070-AK68
  • OSHA-compliant SDS and workplace HazCom training required
  • **OSHA Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048** specific compliance: regulated areas, exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, training, recordkeeping
  • **Cal Prop 65 listing requires "WARNING" on consumer products** containing formaldehyde above No-Significant-Risk-Level (NSRL = 40 µg/day)
  • NO active US AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin formaldehyde currently
  • Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies on Chinese-origin formaldehyde (HS 291211)
  • **EPA TSCA Title VI 40 CFR 770 Composite Wood Products** emission limits for finished-article imports
  • FDA 21 CFR 175 indirect food-additive limits
  • EPA Pesticide FIFRA registration: certain formaldehyde-containing wood-preservative formulations subject to FIFRA

Importer obligations

TSCA is a self-certification regime: importers attest at customs entry that the substance is on the TSCA Inventory. The dominant practitioner-facing layer for formaldehyde is **Active TSCA Section 6 Risk Evaluation + impending Section 6(a) risk-management rule** (expected 2026-2027). EPA TSCA-IRIS docket is the canonical tracking source. **OSHA Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048** drives substantial workplace compliance overhead (regulated areas, exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, training, 30-year recordkeeping). **Cal Prop 65 "WARNING"** label compliance for consumer products. **EPA TSCA Title VI Composite Wood Products** rule applies to finished-article imports of hardwood plywood, MDF, particleboard. Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies. NO active AD/CVD case so no AD margin documentation. Major US domestic producers: Hexion (Springfield Oregon + multiple sites), GP Chemicals / Georgia-Pacific Chemicals (Columbus Ohio + multiple sites), Bakelite Synthetics (Louisville Kentucky), Arclin (Calgary Alberta + US sites).

Required documents

  • TSCA Section 13 Import Certification statement on customs entry
  • OSHA-compliant SDS (Safety Data Sheet) reflecting H301 / H311 / H314 / H317 / H318 / H331 / H335 / H341 / H350 classification
  • OSHA Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048 workplace compliance documentation
  • Customs entry CBP Form 7501 with HS code 291211 (formaldehyde solution) and Section 301 List 3 25% duty applied
  • Cal Prop 65 "WARNING" label compliance documentation for consumer-product downstream applications
  • EPA TSCA Title VI 40 CFR 770 Composite Wood Products certification for finished-article imports
  • FDA 21 CFR 175 indirect food-additive compliance for food-contact downstream applications
  • CDR filing every 4 years if site exceeds 25,000 lb/yr threshold (next cycle 2026)

Common compliance traps

The pitfalls that have bitten importers on this lane in the past. None of these is theoretical.

  • **Active TSCA Section 6 Risk Evaluation** with risk-management rule under development: proposed rule expected 2025-2026, final rule 2026-2027. Practitioners should track EPA TSCA-IRIS docket and RIN 2070-AK68. The risk-management rule may impose use restrictions, concentration limits, or labelling requirements
  • OSHA Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048 specific compliance is substantial workplace overhead: regulated areas, exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, training, 30-year recordkeeping
  • Cal Prop 65 listing applies to all finished-product distribution to California; "WARNING" label compliance
  • Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies; NO active AD on top
  • NO TRI Form R required (formaldehyde delisted from TRI)
  • **EPA TSCA Title VI Composite Wood Products** (40 CFR 770) emission limits apply to finished-article imports of hardwood plywood, MDF, particleboard
  • Major US domestic producers: Hexion (Springfield Oregon + multiple sites), GP Chemicals / Georgia-Pacific Chemicals, Bakelite Synthetics, Arclin. US is comparatively self-sufficient in formaldehyde through domestic supply
  • Chinese-origin formaldehyde imports flow primarily for downstream resin manufacturing; finished-article imports (hardwood plywood, MDF, furniture) are more affected by TSCA Title VI emission limits than bulk formaldehyde imports

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 TSCA, see the TSCA 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.

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Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references

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