CAS 80-05-7 · REACH · European Union

Bisphenol A (BPA) under REACH

C15H16O2 · 双酚A

Status: Restricted. Bisphenol A (BPA) is fully registered under REACH at the highest tonnage band (>1,000,000 tonnes/year). **Distinguishing pattern: closes BOTH phenol batch 13 + acetone batch 15 chains (BPA = 2 phenol + acetone → BPA + H2O condensation; ~50% of phenol demand + ~20% of acetone demand globally) + first SVHC entry in dataset (added 2017 for endocrine disruption + reproductive toxicity Repr 1B) + EU food-contact ban 2024 (Reg 2024/3190 effective late 2024 / early 2025) + state-level US BPA bans for baby bottles since 2008 + IARC reassessment 2024 + BPA cascade SVHC across many downstream products (NEW combined).** Reg (EC) 1272/2008 harmonised: Repr 1B (H360F "may damage fertility") + Eye Dam. 1 (H318) + Skin Sens. 1 (H317) + STOT SE 3 (H335). **REACH SVHC since 16 June 2017** for reproductive toxicity Repr 1B; later additionally identified as endocrine disruptor (verify the SVHC candidate-list listing date and the basis for inclusion against ECHA https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table). NOT yet on Annex XIV but candidate for future listing. **EU food-contact ban**: Reg 2018/213 banned BPA in baby bottles + sippy cups effective February 2018; **Reg 2024/3190 widely bans BPA in plastic + lacquered food-contact materials effective late 2024 / early 2025** with phase-out periods.

Bisphenol A is fully REACH-registered with **Repr 1B + REACH SVHC since 2017 + EU Reg 2024/3190 food-contact ban effective late 2024 / early 2025**. **Closes BOTH phenol batch 13 + acetone batch 15 chains**: BPA = 2 phenol + acetone condensation; ~50% of phenol demand + ~20% of acetone demand globally. **First SVHC entry in dataset**. NO active EU AD case. NOT in CBAM Phase 1. Major Chinese producers: Sinopec (Yangzi + Shanghai + Beijing), **Wanhua Chemical Yantai (integrated PC chain)**, Henan Shenma Industrial Park, Lihuayi Yangzhou. China dominates global BPA capacity (~40%, ~3-4 Mt/yr). Production: 2 phenol + acetone → BPA + H2O acid-catalysed condensation (~99% globally). End-use: polycarbonate / PC (~70%), epoxy resin (~25%), other (~5%). Polycarbonate substitution to PEI + PPSU + tritan in baby-bottle applications post-EU + state-level bans.

Listing and threshold

Substance Bisphenol A (BPA) (CAS 80-05-7), C15H16O2
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: Repr. 1B (H360F "may damage fertility"), Eye Dam. 1 (H318), Skin Sens. 1 (H317), STOT SE 3 (H335)
  • Signal word: DANGER
  • GHS pictograms: GHS05 (corrosion / eye damage), GHS07 (exclamation mark), GHS08 (health hazard, reproductive toxicant)
  • **REACH SVHC since 16 June 2017** (endocrine disruption + reproductive toxicity Repr 1B)
  • IARC: Group 3 historical (not classifiable); recent IARC Monograph reassessment 2024
  • NOT subject to Drug Precursors or Explosives Precursors scheduling
  • ADR / RID transport classification: not regulated as DG (solid)

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • NOT yet on REACH Annex XIV (Authorisation list); candidate for future listing as SVHC
  • **REACH SVHC since 16 June 2017**
  • **EU Reg 2018/213** banned BPA in plastic baby bottles plus polycarbonate drinking cups for infants and young children, with revised migration limits applicable from 6 September 2018 (verify against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/213/oj before relying)
  • **EU Reg 2024/3190 (food-contact materials regulation)**: widely restricts BPA in plastic plus lacquered food-contact materials with phase-out periods (verify the exact entry-into-force and transitional dates against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ before invoicing). Most-imminent food-contact compliance milestone post-batch-18-formaldehyde-Restriction-77
  • EU Reg 1223/2009 cosmetic-product: BPA NOT permitted in cosmetic products
  • EU Reg 10/2011 food-contact: BPA SML 0.05 mg/kg food (legacy; superseded by Reg 2024/3190 ban)
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin BPA 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). The dominant practitioner-facing layer for BPA is **EU Reg 2024/3190 food-contact ban compliance** (widely bans BPA in plastic + lacquered food-contact materials effective late 2024 / early 2025) + **REACH SVHC supply-chain notification** (since 2017, BPA in articles >0.1% requires SVHC notification + REACH Article 33 communication). Major Chinese producers: Sinopec (Yangzi + Shanghai + Beijing), Wanhua Chemical Yantai (BPA + downstream PC chain), Henan Shenma Industrial Park, Lihuayi Yangzhou (Jiangsu).

Required documents

  • REACH registration number on the EU side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • Safety Data Sheet (SDS) compliant with REACH Annex II reflecting H317 / H318 / H335 / H360F classification
  • CLP-compliant labelling with GHS05 + GHS07 + GHS08 pictograms and DANGER signal word
  • Customs entry with HS code 290723 (4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol / BPA)
  • **REACH SVHC supply-chain notification + Article 33 communication** for articles >0.1% BPA
  • **EU Reg 2024/3190 food-contact ban compliance documentation** for downstream food-contact-material exports

Common compliance traps

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

  • **EU Reg 2024/3190 widely bans BPA in plastic + lacquered food-contact materials effective late 2024 / early 2025** with phase-out periods; most-imminent food-contact compliance milestone
  • **REACH SVHC since 16 June 2017**: supply-chain notification + REACH Article 33 communication required for articles >0.1% BPA
  • **Closes BOTH phenol batch 13 + acetone batch 15 chains**: BPA = 2 phenol + acetone → BPA + H2O; ~50% of phenol demand + ~20% of acetone demand globally
  • **BPA cascade SVHC** triggers compliance chain across many downstream polycarbonate + epoxy + thermal-paper products
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese BPA currently
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1
  • Major Chinese producers: Sinopec (Yangzi + Shanghai + Beijing), Wanhua Chemical Yantai (integrated PC chain), Henan Shenma Industrial Park, Lihuayi Yangzhou. China dominates global BPA capacity (~40%, ~3-4 Mt/yr)
  • Production: 2 phenol + acetone → BPA + H2O acid-catalysed condensation route (~99% globally)
  • End-use mix: polycarbonate / PC (~70%, electronic + automotive + construction + medical), epoxy resin (~25%, coating + adhesive + composite + electronics), other (~5%)
  • Polycarbonate is increasingly substituted by polyetherimide (PEI) + polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) + tritan in baby-bottle + sippy-cup applications post-EU + state-level bans

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for bisphenol a (bpa), see the CAS 80-05-7 sourcing reference.

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