CAS 75-09-2 · REACH · European Union

Dichloromethane (methylene chloride, DCM) under REACH

CH2Cl2 · 二氯甲烷

Status: Restricted. Dichloromethane (DCM) is fully registered under REACH at the highest tonnage band (>1,000,000 tonnes/year). **Distinguishing pattern: Carc 2 plus STOT SE 3 plus IARC Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans) since 2017 IARC Monograph 110 (verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/ before relying) + Annex XVII Restriction 59 EU paint-stripper ban (DCM concentration >0.1 percent prohibited in paint strippers placed on EU market for general public use; effective 6 December 2010 per Reg (EU) No 276/2010 amending Annex XVII Reg (EC) 1907/2006) + chlor-alkali batch 45 plus methanol batch 3 hydrochlorination route (~95 percent globally) + solvent applications (paint stripper, aerosol propellant legacy, pharmaceutical extraction, foam blowing, vapor degreasing) (NEW combined).** Reg (EC) 1272/2008 harmonised: Carc 2 (H351) plus STOT SE 3 (H335) plus Skin Irrit. 2 (H315) plus Eye Irrit. 2 (H319). NOT SVHC. NOT Annex XIV. NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin DCM currently (verify against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ before invoicing).

DCM is fully REACH-registered with **Carc 2 plus STOT SE 3 plus IARC Group 2A** (since 2017 Monograph 110). The dominant downstream finished-product compliance layer is **Annex XVII Restriction 59 EU paint-stripper ban** (DCM >0.1 percent prohibited in EU paint strippers for general public plus professional use; effective 6 December 2010 per Reg 276/2010). NOT SVHC (kept off in favour of targeted Annex XVII framework). NO active EU AD case. Major Chinese producers: chlor-alkali batch 45 multi-site (Sinopec, Wanhua, Hengli, Tangshan Sanyou, Shandong Haihua), Juhua Group, Dongyue Group. Production: chlor-alkali plus methanol hydrochlorination (~95 percent globally).

Listing and threshold

Substance Dichloromethane (methylene chloride, DCM) (CAS 75-09-2), CH2Cl2
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. 2 (H351), STOT SE 3 (H335), Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), Eye Irrit. 2 (H319)
  • Signal word: WARNING. GHS pictograms: GHS07, GHS08
  • **IARC: Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans) since 2017 IARC Monograph 110 (verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/ before relying)** (verify Volume 110 against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications)
  • NOT subject to Drug Precursors or Explosives Precursors scheduling
  • ADR / RID transport classification: Class 6.1 (toxic substance), UN 1593 (dichloromethane), Packing Group III

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • NOT on REACH Annex XIV (verify against ECHA https://echa.europa.eu/authorisation-list)
  • NOT classified as SVHC (verify against ECHA https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table; despite IARC Group 2A and harmonised Carc 2, DCM is kept off SVHC in favour of targeted Annex XVII Restriction 59 framework)
  • **Annex XVII Restriction 59 (Reg (EU) No 276/2010 amending Reg (EC) 1907/2006 Annex XVII)**: DCM concentration >0.1 percent prohibited in paint strippers placed on EU market for general public use plus professional users; effective 6 December 2010 (verify the consolidated Annex XVII text and Restriction 59 scope against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/oj before relying)
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin DCM currently
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1 scope
  • EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) requires permitting for installations producing or using DCM 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 downstream finished-product compliance layer is **Annex XVII Restriction 59 EU paint-stripper ban**: DCM-based paint strippers >0.1 percent are prohibited for general public plus professional use. Major Chinese producers: chlor-alkali batch 45 multi-site (Sinopec plus Wanhua plus Hengli plus Tangshan Sanyou plus Shandong Haihua), Juhua Group, Dongyue Group (verify each producer-site pair against the producer's public website before relying on a specific plant).

Required documents

  • REACH registration number on EU side
  • SDS reflecting H315 / H319 / H335 / H351 classification
  • CLP labelling with GHS07 plus GHS08 plus WARNING
  • Customs entry HS code 290312 (dichloromethane)
  • ADR consignment note Class 6.1, UN 1593, PG III
  • **Annex XVII Restriction 59 compliance documentation** for downstream paint-stripper applications

Common compliance traps

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

  • **Annex XVII Restriction 59 EU paint-stripper ban** is the dominant downstream finished-product compliance layer
  • **IARC Group 2A since 2017 Monograph 110** drives long-term workplace surveillance
  • NOT SVHC despite Carc 2 + IARC 2A (essential industrial use)
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese DCM currently
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1
  • Major Chinese producers: chlor-alkali batch 45 multi-site Sinopec + Wanhua + Hengli + Tangshan Sanyou + Shandong Haihua, Juhua Group, Dongyue Group; China dominates global DCM capacity (verify percent-of-global share against ICIS or S&P Commodity Insights before quoting; prior reports cited approximately 60 percent at ~1.5 to 2 Mt/yr)
  • Production: chlor-alkali batch 45 plus methanol batch 3 hydrochlorination (~95 percent globally; methanol + HCl → CH3Cl, then chlorination to higher chloromethanes including DCM)
  • End-use mix: paint stripper plus surface coatings (~30 percent legacy, declining post-EU ban plus US TSCA rule), pharmaceutical extraction (~25 percent), foam blowing (~10 percent), vapor degreasing plus metal cleaning (~15 percent), aerosol propellant legacy (~5 percent declining), other plus chloro-organic feedstock (~15 percent)

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for dichloromethane (methylene chloride, dcm), see the CAS 75-09-2 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the dichloromethane (methylene chloride, dcm) 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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