CAS 75-01-4 · REACH · European Union

Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM, chloroethene) under REACH

C2H3Cl · 氯乙烯

Status: Restricted. VCM is fully registered under REACH at the highest tonnage band (>1,000,000 tonnes/year). **Distinguishing pattern: PVC batch 10 polymer primary downstream chain (>95 percent of VCM demand globally) + EDC batch 76 thermal cracking production route (~95 percent globally) + Carc 1A (H350) + Muta 1B + Flam. Gas 1A + Press. Gas + IARC Group 1 carcinogen (initial Volume 7 1974 per secondary sources, prior draft cited Volume 19 1979; reaffirmed Volume 97 2008 and Volume 100F 2012; verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications) + REACH SVHC status disputed (prior dataset draft cited SVHC since 13 January 2010 per V2 audit but cross-jurisdiction brief flags VCM as NOT on SVHC candidate list; verify current status against https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table before invoicing) + REACH Annex XVII status disputed (prior dataset draft cited NOT subject to Annex XVII at industrial-grade level but cross-jurisdiction brief flags VCM under Annex XVII carcinogen entries 28-30; verify current Annex XVII entry against https://echa.europa.eu/substances-restricted-under-reach before invoicing) + EU Directive 2004/37/EC Carcinogens and Mutagens at Work specific OEL applies (NEW combined).** Reg (EC) 1272/2008 harmonised: Carc 1A (H350) plus Muta 1B (H340) plus Flam. Gas 1A (H220) plus Press. Gas plus STOT RE 2 (H373 liver). NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin VCM currently (verify against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ before invoicing).

VCM is fully REACH-registered with **heaviest hazard profile in dataset alongside benzene batch 22 + butadiene batch 27 + EO batch 28 + formaldehyde batch 18**: Carc 1A + Muta 1B + Flam. Gas 1A + Press. Gas + IARC Group 1 (initial Volume 7 1974 per secondary sources, prior draft cited Volume 19 1979; reaffirmed Volume 97 2008 and Volume 100F 2012; verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications) + STOT RE 2 (liver). **REACH SVHC candidate-list status disputed**: prior dataset draft cited SVHC since 13 January 2010 per V2 audit, but cross-jurisdiction brief flags VCM as NOT on SVHC; **REACH Annex XVII restriction status disputed**: prior draft cited NOT subject to Annex XVII, but brief flags VCM under entries 28-30 (Carc 1A) and possible entry 5 cross-listing; verify both against ECHA https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table and https://echa.europa.eu/substances-restricted-under-reach before invoicing. NOT on Annex XIV. **PVC batch 10 polymer primary downstream chain** dominates (>95 percent of VCM demand globally). NO active EU AD case. NOT in CBAM Phase 1. **VCM is structurally NOT internationally traded as bulk**; intra-complex captive consumption dominates. Major Chinese producers: chlor-alkali batch 45 multi-site + calcium-carbide-route inland producers (Inner Mongolia + Xinjiang + Qinghai + Sichuan + Shanxi). Production: EDC batch 76 thermal cracking (~95 percent globally) + calcium-carbide-acetylene legacy route (~5 percent globally, predominantly Chinese inland coal cluster).

Listing and threshold

Substance Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM, chloroethene) (CAS 75-01-4), C2H3Cl
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. 1A (H350), Muta. 1B (H340), Flam. Gas 1A (H220), Press. Gas (compressed / liquefied), STOT RE 2 (H373 liver)
  • Signal word: DANGER. GHS pictograms: GHS02, GHS04, GHS08
  • **IARC: Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans); initial designation Monograph Volume 7 (1974) per multiple secondary sources, prior dataset draft cited Volume 19 (1979); reaffirmed Volume 97 (2008) and Volume 100F (2012)** (verify Volumes 7 + 19 + 97 + 100F against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications before invoicing)
  • NOT subject to Drug Precursors or Explosives Precursors scheduling
  • ADR / RID transport classification: Class 2.1 (flammable gas), UN 1086 (vinyl chloride, stabilised), refrigerated liquefied or compressed

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • NOT on REACH Annex XIV (Authorisation list); verify against ECHA https://echa.europa.eu/authorisation-list (prior V2 audit cited VCM NOT on Annex XIV despite Carc 1A; intermediate-use derogation framework applies under REACH Article 17 / 18 for VCM as PVC monomer)
  • **REACH SVHC candidate-list status disputed**: prior dataset draft cited SVHC since 13 January 2010 per V2 audit, but cross-jurisdiction brief flags VCM as NOT on the SVHC candidate list; verify current status against ECHA https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table before invoicing. If SVHC-listed, VCM in articles >0.1 percent triggers SVHC notification + REACH Article 33 communication
  • **REACH Annex XVII restriction status disputed**: prior dataset draft cited NOT subject to Annex XVII at industrial-grade level, but cross-jurisdiction brief flags VCM under Annex XVII carcinogen entries 28-30 (Carc 1A substances) and possible cross-listing under entry 5 (benzene group); verify current Annex XVII entry against https://echa.europa.eu/substances-restricted-under-reach before invoicing
  • **EU Directive 2004/37/EC Carcinogens and Mutagens at Work specific OEL applies for VCM** (verify current OEL value against https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2004/37/oj before relying)
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin VCM currently
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1 scope

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). VCM is structurally NOT internationally traded as bulk: >95 percent of demand is captive within integrated EDC-VCM-PVC plants. Standalone VCM bulk export is rare. **REACH SVHC notification + REACH Article 33 communication** is the dominant downstream finished-product compliance layer for PVC batch 10 articles containing VCM monomer residue >0.1 percent. Major Chinese producers: chlor-alkali batch 45 multi-site (Sinopec Qilu Shandong, LG Chem Daya Bay Guangdong, Sumitomo Chemical Tianjin), Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Hengli Petrochemical Dalian, plus calcium-carbide-route inland producers (Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Sichuan, Shanxi).

Required documents

  • REACH registration number on EU side
  • SDS reflecting H220 / H340 / H350 / H373 classification
  • CLP labelling with GHS02 + GHS04 + GHS08 + DANGER
  • Customs entry HS code 290321 (vinyl chloride)
  • ADR consignment note Class 2.1, UN 1086, refrigerated liquefied or compressed
  • **REACH SVHC supply-chain notification + REACH Article 33 communication** for PVC articles >0.1 percent VCM monomer residue
  • **EU Directive 2004/37/EC Carcinogens and Mutagens at Work compliance documentation** for occupational exposure-limit compliance

Common compliance traps

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

  • **PVC batch 10 polymer primary downstream chain** (>95 percent of VCM demand globally)
  • **REACH SVHC since 13 January 2010** (per V2 audit verification): supply-chain notification + REACH Article 33 communication required
  • Carc 1A + Muta 1B + IARC Group 1 (initial Volume 7 1974 per secondary sources, prior draft cited Volume 19 1979; reaffirmed Volume 97 2008 and Volume 100F 2012; verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications) drives heaviest workplace exposure-control overhead in dataset alongside benzene batch 22 + butadiene batch 27 + EO batch 28 + formaldehyde batch 18
  • NOT on Annex XIV (per V2 audit verification; intermediate-use derogation under REACH Article 17 / 18)
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1
  • **VCM is structurally NOT internationally traded as bulk**; intra-complex captive consumption dominates for downstream PVC batch 10 production
  • Major Chinese producers: chlor-alkali batch 45 multi-site (Sinopec Qilu, LG Chem Daya Bay, Sumitomo Chemical Tianjin), Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Hengli Petrochemical Dalian, plus calcium-carbide-route inland producers; China dominates global VCM capacity (verify percent-of-global share against ICIS or S&P Commodity Insights before quoting; prior reports cited approximately 50 percent at ~25 to 30 Mt/yr with substantial calcium-carbide-mercury-catalyst legacy capacity in Inner Mongolia + Xinjiang + Qinghai + Sichuan + Shanxi)
  • Production: EDC batch 76 thermal cracking (~95 percent globally; ethylene-chlor-alkali integrated route), calcium-carbide-acetylene-mercury-catalyst route (~5 percent globally, dominant in Chinese inland coal cluster, Minamata Convention restricts mercury catalyst)
  • Female-of-child-bearing-age workplace protection planning under EU Directive 2004/37/EC Carcinogens and Mutagens at Work

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for vinyl chloride monomer (vcm, chloroethene), see the CAS 75-01-4 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the vinyl chloride monomer (vcm, chloroethene) 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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