# Fatty alcohols: Regulation

Mild hazards, with a watch on aquatic effects

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/fatty_alcohols/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 |
|---|---|---|
| eye irritation category 2; some grades aquatic chronic hazard (indicative) | not regulated for most grades (indicative) | Low toxicity; spills harm aquatic life before they biodegrade. |

#### Main rules

| Where | Rule | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| **EU** | REACH; EU Deforestation Regulation for palm-derived alcohols; EU Ecolabel biodegradability criteria | traceability and biodegradability requirements |
| **US** | TSCA; 2025 reciprocal tariffs on Indonesia (32%) and Malaysia (25%) | raised import costs (GlobalData) |
| **Global** | RSPO mass-balance and segregated certification | certified premiums for consumer brands |

#### India

| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| **Basic customs duty on fatty alcohols (indicative)** | sets import parity for Galaxy and other surfactant makers |
| **BIS quality standards for detergents and cosmetics (indicative)** | indirect specification of surfactant inputs |

#### Trade measures

- US tariffs on Indonesian and Malaysian goods (2025)
- Indonesian export levies on palm products

#### Supply risk

Oleo supply is concentrated in Indonesia and Malaysia and depends on lauric oils, a small market exposed to weather and policy. Synthetic supply in the US and Europe gives some diversity.

## Other sections

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