CAS 85-44-9 · TSCA · United States of America

Phthalic anhydride under TSCA

C8H4O3 · 邻苯二甲酸酐

Status: Listed. Phthalic anhydride is on the TSCA Inventory and is currently listed as TSCA Active. **OSHA PEL 2 ppm (12 mg/m^3) 8-hr TWA** at 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1 (verify against https://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels). NOT on EPA RMP threshold list. NOT on DEA scheduling. NOT on California Proposition 65 (verify against OEHHA https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list before relying on negative listing). **TRI Section 313 listed**: Form R annual reporting required. NO active US AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin phthalic anhydride currently (verify against https://access.trade.gov/ before invoicing). Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies on Chinese-origin phthalic anhydride (HS 291735; verify the current Section 301 rate against https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/enforcement/section-301-investigations/tariff-actions before invoicing). Major US domestic producers (verify each company-site pair against the producer's public website before relying): BASF Geismar Louisiana, ExxonMobil Baytown Texas, Stepan Joliet Illinois.

The US phthalic anhydride lane is dominated by **OSHA PEL 2 ppm 8-hr TWA + TRI Form R + RCRA U-listed hazardous waste + Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty**. NO active US AD/CVD case. NOT on Cal Prop 65. Major US producers: BASF Geismar Louisiana, ExxonMobil Baytown Texas, Stepan Joliet Illinois.

Listing and threshold

Substance Phthalic anhydride (CAS 85-44-9), C8H4O3
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 H302 / H317 / H318 / H332 / H334 / H335
  • OSHA PEL 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1: 2 ppm (12 mg/m^3) 8-hr TWA (per https://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels)
  • NIOSH REL: 1 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
  • NOT on California Proposition 65 list (verify against OEHHA https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list before relying on negative listing)
  • **TRI Section 313 listed**: Form R annual reporting required
  • IARC: nitric acid itself is not separately classified; occupational exposure to strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid was classified IARC Group 1 (laryngeal cancer) in Monograph Volume 54 (1992) (verify the current classification and Monograph volume against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications before relying on the inorganic-acid-mist read-across for nitric acid)

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • No TSCA Section 6 use restrictions currently
  • OSHA-compliant SDS and workplace HazCom training required
  • NO active US AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin phthalic anhydride currently
  • Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies on Chinese-origin phthalic anhydride (HS 291735)
  • **TRI Form R annual reporting**
  • EPA RCRA Subtitle C: phthalic anhydride is a hazardous waste (U-listed) when discarded

Importer obligations

TSCA is a self-certification regime. The dominant practitioner-facing layer is **OSHA PEL 2 ppm + TRI Form R + RCRA hazardous waste tracking + Section 301**. NO active AD/CVD case. Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies. Major US producers: BASF Geismar Louisiana, ExxonMobil Baytown Texas, Stepan Joliet Illinois.

Required documents

  • TSCA Section 13 Import Certification statement on customs entry
  • OSHA-compliant SDS reflecting H302 / H317 / H318 / H332 / H334 / H335 classification
  • Customs entry CBP Form 7501 with HS code 291735 (phthalic anhydride) and Section 301 List 3 25% duty applied
  • TRI Form R annual report
  • RCRA hazardous waste manifest for spent phthalic anhydride waste
  • CDR filing every 4 years if site exceeds 25,000 lb/yr threshold

Common compliance traps

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

  • **OSHA PEL 2 ppm 8-hr TWA + occupational asthma surveillance** for Resp. Sens. 1 substances
  • **TRI Form R annual reporting**
  • **RCRA U-listed hazardous waste**
  • NO active US AD/CVD case on Chinese phthalic anhydride currently
  • Section 301 List 3 25% additional duty applies; structurally lighter than caprolactam batch 14 + acetic acid batch 19 lanes
  • Major US producers: BASF Geismar Louisiana, ExxonMobil Baytown Texas, Stepan Joliet Illinois

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for phthalic anhydride, see the CAS 85-44-9 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the phthalic anhydride 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

Referenced in

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