Toxic, carcinogenic and releases cyanide when it burns
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.
Toxic and carcinogenic; can polymerise violently if uninhibited; fires release hydrogen cyanide.
Main rules
Where
Rule
Effect
EU
REACH (restricted occupational exposure); Seveso III
strict workplace limits
US
OSHA ACN standard (2 ppm TWA); EPA HON rule (2024)
emissions controls at plants
India
Rule
Effect
MSIHC Rules 1989 (ACN listed as hazardous chemical)
storage and import licences
DGTR ADD recommendation on NBR (25 Sep 2025)
protects the downstream nitrile rubber chain (Apcotex)
Trade measures
India NBR ADD recommendation (Sep 2025)
No ACN-specific duties identified in India
Supply risk
India has no domestic ACN, so its ABS, acrylic fibre and acrylamide chains rely on imports from North-East Asia. Global oversupply makes supply plentiful for now.