# ABS: Regulation

Cyanide smoke, flame retardants and e-waste rules

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/regulation/

What this tab covers How it is regulated and what could disrupt supply: hazard classification, rules in the EU, US and India, anti-dumping duties and other trade measures, and supply-risk notes.

#### Hazards

| Classification | UN number | Key risks |
|---|---|---|
| not classified as hazardous as a polymer; residual acrylonitrile (carcinogen category 1B) and styrene limited in specifications | not regulated | Fire produces dense smoke and hydrogen cyanide. Brominated flame-retardant grades face restrictions. |

#### Main rules

| Where | Rule | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| **EU** | REACH (monomers registered, polymer exempt); RoHS and POPs limits on brominated flame retardants; WEEE Directive | Shapes flame-retardant choice and pushes recycling of electronics plastic |
| **EU** | Food-contact Regulation 10/2011 | Limits on acrylonitrile migration for kitchenware grades |
| **US** | TSCA; UL 94 flammability for electronics; FDA food-contact rules | Grade certification for electronics and food use |
| **Global** | Stockholm Convention listing of decaBDE (2017) | Ended a main flame retardant for ABS electronics housings |

#### India

| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| **BIS quality-control order on ABS (withdrawn 12 Nov 2025)** | Eases Chinese and Korean imports (BIS notification via ELP, Nov 2025) |
| **E-Waste (Management) Rules 2022, extended producer responsibility** | Drives collection of ABS-rich electronics plastic |
| **Plastic Waste Management Rules (EPR, amended 2024)** | Recycled-content targets mainly for packaging, less for ABS |

#### Trade measures

- No major ABS anti-dumping duty found in sources reached; China has applied anti-dumping duties to styrene since 2018 (styrene tile).

#### Supply risk

Moderate. Capacity is concentrated in China, Korea and Taiwan, but many plants compete. India's risk is styrene: it imports all of it, much of it from the Middle East through Hormuz (styrene tile).

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/movement/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/abs/links/index.md)