CAS 64-17-5 · TSCA · United States of America

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) under TSCA

C2H6O · 乙醇

Status: Listed. Ethanol is on the TSCA Inventory and is currently listed as TSCA Active. **OSHA PEL 1,000 ppm 8-hr TWA** at 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1 (verified against https://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels/table-z-1). NOT on EPA RMP threshold list. NOT on DEA scheduling. **California Proposition 65 lists alcoholic-beverage consumption for cancer endpoint**: "Alcoholic beverages, when associated with alcohol abuse" listed 1 July 1988 (carcinogen, State's Qualified Experts basis); "Alcoholic beverages" listed 29 April 2011 (carcinogen, Labor Code basis); ethanol as such NOT listed (verified against https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list; verify any developmental-toxicity endpoint and effective date against OEHHA directly before invoicing California-distributed product). NOT on TRI Section 313 list. NO active US AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin industrial-grade ethanol currently (verify against https://access.trade.gov/ before invoicing). Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies on Chinese-origin ethanol (HS 220720). **EPA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)** drives fuel-grade blending mandates (E10 / E15 / E85; verify the current annual Renewable Volume Obligation against https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program before relying). **TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau)** parallel regulation for alcoholic-beverage ethanol. Major US domestic producers (verify each company-site pair and global rank against the producer's public website before relying): Archer Daniels Midland, POET (a leading US ethanol producer; verify the most recent capacity Mt/yr against the POET corporate site before quoting world-largest US rank), Valero, Green Plains, Marathon Petroleum, Pacific Ethanol.

The US ethanol lane is dominated by **TTB regulation parallel to industrial regulation + Cal Prop 65 (alcoholic-beverage consumption) + EPA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending mandates + Section 301**. Major US producers: ADM, POET (largest US ethanol producer ~6 Mt/yr), Valero, Green Plains, Marathon Petroleum, Pacific Ethanol. US is structurally net-exporter via fuel-grade corn-ethanol.

Listing and threshold

Substance Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) (CAS 64-17-5), C2H6O
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 H225 / H319
  • OSHA PEL 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1: 1,000 ppm 8-hr TWA (verified against https://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels/table-z-1)
  • NIOSH REL: 1,000 ppm 8-hr TWA (verify against https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/)
  • NOT subject to TSCA Section 6 Risk Evaluation
  • NOT on 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: alcoholic-beverage consumption listed for cancer** ("Alcoholic beverages, when associated with alcohol abuse" 1 July 1988; "Alcoholic beverages" 29 April 2011); ethanol per se NOT listed (verified against https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list)
  • NOT on TRI Section 313 list
  • DOT hazardous materials regulation (49 CFR 172.101): UN 1170, Class 3, PG II
  • **IARC: Group 1 for alcoholic-beverage consumption (NOT industrial use)**
  • **EPA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)** drives fuel-grade blending mandates
  • **TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau)** parallel regulation for alcoholic-beverage ethanol

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • No TSCA Section 6 use restrictions currently
  • OSHA-compliant SDS and workplace HazCom training required
  • **Cal Prop 65 listing requires "WARNING"** on alcoholic-beverage consumer products containing ethanol
  • **TTB regulation** parallel for alcoholic-beverage ethanol (federal alcohol excise tax + production permits)
  • NO active US AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin industrial-grade ethanol currently
  • Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies on Chinese-origin ethanol (HS 220720)
  • **EPA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending mandates** + state-level E10 / E15 / E85 requirements

Importer obligations

TSCA is a self-certification regime. The dominant practitioner-facing layer is **TTB regulation for alcoholic-beverage ethanol + Cal Prop 65 + EPA RFS for fuel-grade ethanol + Section 301**. NO active AD/CVD case for industrial-grade. Major US producers: ADM, POET (largest US ethanol producer ~6 Mt/yr), Valero, Green Plains, Marathon Petroleum, Pacific Ethanol.

Required documents

  • TSCA Section 13 Import Certification statement on customs entry
  • OSHA-compliant SDS reflecting H225 / H319 classification
  • Customs entry CBP Form 7501 with HS code 220720 (denatured) and Section 301 List 3 25% duty applied
  • Cal Prop 65 "WARNING" label compliance documentation for alcoholic-beverage applications
  • **TTB documentation** for alcoholic-beverage ethanol (federal alcohol excise tax + production permits)
  • EPA RFS Renewable Identification Number (RIN) for fuel-grade ethanol blending

Common compliance traps

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

  • **TTB regulation parallel to industrial regulation** for alcoholic-beverage ethanol (federal alcohol excise tax + production permits)
  • **Cal Prop 65 listing applies for alcoholic-beverage consumption only, NOT industrial use**
  • **EPA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)** drives ~50% of US ethanol demand structurally
  • NO active US AD/CVD case on Chinese industrial-grade ethanol currently
  • Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies
  • Major US producers: ADM, POET (largest US ethanol producer ~6 Mt/yr corn-fermentation), Valero, Green Plains, Marathon Petroleum, Pacific Ethanol
  • US is structurally net-exporter via fuel-grade corn-ethanol; Brazilian sugarcane-ethanol has lower carbon footprint
  • Section 232 (national security) tariff investigation initiated 2018 on Brazilian sugarcane-ethanol; later resolved

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for ethanol (ethyl alcohol), see the CAS 64-17-5 sourcing reference.

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

Read next

Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references

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