CAS 108-88-3 · REACH · European Union

Toluene (methylbenzene) under REACH

C7H8 · 甲苯

Status: Restricted. Toluene is fully registered under REACH at the highest tonnage band (>1,000,000 tonnes/year) as a foundational aromatic solvent and BTX (benzene-toluene-xylene) chain product. **Distinguishing pattern: BTX-chain aromatic solvent + Repr 2 (H361d "may damage the unborn child") + Annex XVII Restriction 48 (retail adhesives + spray paints) + abuse-substance flag (toluene inhalation).** Reg (EC) 1272/2008 harmonised classification includes Repr 2 + STOT RE 2 + Asp. Tox. 1 + Flam. Liq. 2. EU REACH Annex XVII Restriction 48: toluene >0.1% in adhesives and spray paints intended for retail sale to the general public is restricted (originally introduced under Directive 76/769/EEC and carried to REACH Annex XVII; verify current text and effective dates against https://echa.europa.eu/substances-restricted-under-reach and https://eur-lex.europa.eu). NOT SVHC. NOT Annex XIV. NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin toluene currently. NOT a drug precursor under Reg 273/2004. Coal-tar + petroleum reformer + steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline routes coexist; petroleum reformer route dominates globally (~75%).

Toluene is fully REACH-registered with moderate hazard profile (Flam. Liq. 2 + Repr 2 + Asp. Tox. 1 + STOT RE 2 + Skin Irrit. 2 + STOT SE 3). The dominant practitioner-facing layer is **Annex XVII Restriction 48** (retail adhesives + spray paints >0.1% restricted since 2007) and **Repr 2 (H361d "may damage the unborn child")** workplace exposure-control overhead. NOT a drug precursor (lighter than acetone batch 15 + methanol batch 3). NO active EU AD case. NOT in CBAM Phase 1. Major Chinese producers: Sinopec (Yangzi + Shanghai + Maoming + Yueyang), CNPC (Karamay + Jilin + Daqing), Hengli Petrochemical Dalian, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Zhejiang Petrochemical Zhoushan / ZRCC. China dominates global capacity (~30%, ~12-15 Mt/yr). Petroleum reformer route dominates globally (~75%); steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline route ~20%; coal-tar route ~5%. **BTX-chain economics** couple toluene to benzene + xylene markets via naphtha reformer + steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline integrated economics. End-use mix: gasoline-blending octane-booster (~40%), benzene + xylene production via toluene disproportionation / hydrodealkylation (~30%), TDI / MDI feedstock (~15%), solvent + adhesive applications (~10%), other (~5%).

Listing and threshold

Substance Toluene (methylbenzene) (CAS 108-88-3), C7H8
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: Flam. Liq. 2 (H225, "highly flammable liquid and vapour"), Repr. 2 (H361d "may damage the unborn child"), Asp. Tox. 1 (H304, "may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways"), STOT RE 2 (H373 (CNS)), Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), STOT SE 3 (H336, narcotic effects)
  • Signal word: DANGER
  • GHS pictograms: GHS02 (flame), GHS07 (exclamation mark), GHS08 (health hazard, reproductive / aspiration / target organ)
  • IARC: toluene classified Group 3 (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans), IARC Monograph Vol 71 (1999) reaffirmed in Vol 100F (2012) (verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications)
  • NOT classified as carcinogen, mutagen at standard CLP cutoffs (Repr. 2 only)
  • NOT subject to Drug Precursors Reg 273/2004
  • NOT subject to Explosives Precursors Reg 2019/1148
  • ADR / RID transport classification: Class 3 (flammable liquid), UN 1294, Packing Group II
  • WHO Air Quality Guidelines: 1-week average 260 µg/m³ indoor air

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • NOT on REACH Annex XIV (Authorisation list)
  • NOT classified as SVHC
  • **Annex XVII Restriction 48** (Reg 552/2009): toluene >0.1% in adhesives and spray paints intended for retail sale to general public restricted since 2007
  • EU Cosmetic Products Regulation 1223/2009 Annex II prohibits toluene in cosmetic products at >25% w/w
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin toluene currently
  • Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): NOT in CBAM Phase 1 scope; potential Phase 2 candidate post-2026 review
  • EU Reg 10/2011 food-contact: toluene specific migration limit (SML 1.5 mg/kg food) for plastic food-contact materials
  • EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) requires permitting for installations producing toluene above declared thresholds

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 toluene is **Annex XVII Restriction 48 compliance** for downstream adhesive and spray-paint formulators serving the EU consumer market. **Repr 2 (H361d "may damage the unborn child") drives workplace exposure-control overhead** + female-of-child-bearing-age protection planning at handling facilities. Major Chinese producers (Sinopec Yangzi + Sinopec Shanghai + Sinopec Maoming + Sinopec Yueyang, CNPC Karamay + CNPC Jilin + CNPC Daqing, Hengli Petrochemical Dalian, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Zhejiang Petrochemical Zhoushan / ZRCC) compete with EU domestic producers (BP / INEOS Hull, Shell Chemicals Pernis, BASF Ludwigshafen, ExxonMobil Antwerp).

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 H225 / H304 / H315 / H336 / H361d / H373 classification
  • CLP-compliant labelling with GHS02 + GHS07 + GHS08 pictograms and DANGER signal word
  • Customs entry with HS code 290230 (toluene)
  • ADR consignment note for transport (Class 3, UN 1294, PG II)
  • **Annex XVII Restriction 48 conformity declaration** for downstream retail-adhesive and spray-paint formulators
  • Reg 1223/2009 cosmetic-product compliance documentation where applicable
  • EU Reg 10/2011 food-contact compliance documentation for plastic food-contact downstream applications

Common compliance traps

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

  • **Annex XVII Restriction 48 (Reg 552/2009)**: toluene >0.1% in adhesives and spray paints for retail sale to general public restricted since 2007
  • **Repr 2 (H361d "may damage the unborn child")** drives workplace exposure-control overhead + female-of-child-bearing-age protection planning at handling facilities
  • **Asp. Tox. 1 (H304)** drives engineered controls against accidental ingestion and aspiration; PG II for transport
  • BTX-chain (benzene + toluene + xylene) economics couple toluene to benzene + xylene markets via naphtha reformer + steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline integrated economics
  • NOT a drug precursor (lighter than acetone batch 15 + methanol batch 3 + sulfuric acid batch 2)
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese toluene currently
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1 scope but EU revision may extend; long-term watch-item
  • Major Chinese producers: Sinopec (Yangzi + Shanghai + Maoming + Yueyang), CNPC (Karamay + Jilin + Daqing), Hengli Petrochemical Dalian, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Zhejiang Petrochemical Zhoushan / ZRCC. China dominates global capacity (~30%, ~12-15 Mt/yr toluene-equivalent)
  • Petroleum reformer route dominates globally (~75%); steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline route ~20%; coal-tar route ~5% (Chinese coal-route concentration in Henan + Shanxi)

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for toluene (methylbenzene), see the CAS 108-88-3 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the toluene (methylbenzene) 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.

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Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references

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