CAS 79-10-7 · REACH · European Union

Acrylic acid (prop-2-enoic acid) under REACH

C3H4O2 · 丙烯酸

Status: Registered. Acrylic acid is fully registered under REACH. **Distinguishing pattern: closes propylene oxidation chain (propylene + air → acrolein → acrylic acid; ~99% globally) + Skin Corr. 1A (H314) + Acute Tox. 4 + Aquatic Acute 1 + SAP / superabsorbent polymer (sodium polyacrylate) primary downstream chain (~30% of demand, hygiene products + diapers + agricultural water-retention) + acrylic ester chain (methyl + ethyl + butyl + 2-EH acrylate, ~50% combined for paint + coating + adhesive + textile-finishing) (NEW combined).** Reg (EC) 1272/2008 harmonised: Skin Corr. 1A + Acute Tox. 4 oral / dermal / inhalation + Aquatic Acute 1. NOT SVHC. NOT Annex XIV. NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin acrylic acid currently.

Acrylic acid is fully REACH-registered with **Skin Corr. 1A + Acute Tox. 4 + Aquatic Acute 1 hazard profile**. **Closes propylene oxidation chain** (propylene + air → acrolein → acrylic acid via two-stage Bi-Mo + Mo-V catalysis; ~99% globally). NOT SVHC, NOT Annex XIV. NO active EU AD case. Major Chinese producers: BASF Nanjing JV, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Sinopec Shanghai + Sinopec Beijing, Jiangsu Jurong Acrylates. China dominates global acrylic acid capacity (~50%, ~6-7 Mt/yr). End-use: acrylic ester chain (~50%, paint + coating + adhesive), SAP / superabsorbent polymer (~30%, hygiene + agriculture), water-treatment polymers (~10%). TBC inhibitor critical for storage (200-300 ppm).

Listing and threshold

Substance Acrylic acid (prop-2-enoic acid) (CAS 79-10-7), C3H4O2
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 Registered
Tonnage threshold Registration required for any importer or manufacturer placing >1 t/year on the EU market

Classifications under this regime

  • Harmonised CLP classification: Flam. Liq. 3 (H226), Skin Corr. 1A (H314), Acute Tox. 4 oral / dermal / inhalation (H302 / H312 / H332), Aquatic Acute 1 (H400)
  • Signal word: DANGER
  • GHS pictograms: GHS02 (flame), GHS05 (corrosion), GHS07 (exclamation mark), GHS09 (aquatic environment)
  • IARC: nitric acid itself is not separately classified; occupational exposure to strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid was classified IARC Group 1 (laryngeal cancer) in Monograph Volume 54 (1992) (verify the current classification and Monograph volume against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications before relying on the inorganic-acid-mist read-across for nitric acid)
  • NOT subject to Drug Precursors or Explosives Precursors scheduling
  • ADR / RID transport classification: Class 8 (corrosive substance), UN 2218, Packing Group II
  • TBC inhibitor critical for safe storage and transport

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • NOT on REACH Annex XIV (Authorisation list)
  • NOT classified as SVHC
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin acrylic acid currently
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1 scope
  • EU Reg 10/2011 food-contact: acrylic acid specific migration limit (SML 6 mg/kg food)

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). Skin Corr. 1A drives engineered controls + corrosion-resistant tankage. Major Chinese producers: BASF Nanjing JV, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Sinopec Shanghai + Sinopec Beijing, Jiangsu Jurong Acrylates. EU domestic producers: BASF Ludwigshafen + Antwerp, Arkema Carling France + Clear Lake Texas USA, Dow Chemical (USA + Tarragona Spain).

Required documents

  • REACH registration number on the EU side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • Safety Data Sheet (SDS) compliant with REACH Annex II reflecting H226 / H302 / H312 / H314 / H332 / H400 classification
  • CLP-compliant labelling with GHS02 + GHS05 + GHS07 + GHS09 pictograms and DANGER signal word
  • Customs entry with HS code 291611 (acrylic acid)
  • ADR consignment note for transport (Class 8, UN 2218, PG II)

Common compliance traps

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

  • **Closes propylene oxidation chain** (propylene + air → acrolein → acrylic acid via Bi-Mo + Mo-V catalysts in two stages; ~99% globally)
  • **SAP / superabsorbent polymer chain** (~30% of demand, hygiene products + diapers + agricultural water-retention) is the rapidly-growing downstream
  • **Acrylic ester chain** (methyl + ethyl + butyl + 2-EH acrylate; ~50% combined) for paint + coating + adhesive + textile-finishing
  • Skin Corr. 1A drives engineered controls + corrosion-resistant tankage
  • NOT SVHC, NOT Annex XIV
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese acrylic acid currently
  • Major Chinese producers: BASF Nanjing JV, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Sinopec Shanghai + Sinopec Beijing, Jiangsu Jurong Acrylates. China dominates global acrylic acid capacity (~50%, ~6-7 Mt/yr)
  • Production: propylene + air two-stage catalytic oxidation (acrolein intermediate + acrylic acid product)
  • TBC (4-tert-butylcatechol) inhibitor critical for safe storage and transport (prevents thermal-runaway polymerisation); typical 200-300 ppm spec (similar to VAM batch 32)
  • End-use mix: acrylic ester chain (~50%, methyl / ethyl / butyl / 2-EH acrylate for paint + coating + adhesive), SAP / superabsorbent polymer (~30%, hygiene + agriculture), water-treatment polymers (~10%), other (~10%)

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for acrylic acid (prop-2-enoic acid), see the CAS 79-10-7 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the acrylic acid (prop-2-enoic acid) 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

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