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
PLA not classified; lactic acid skin corrosion/irritation and serious eye damage
PLA none; lactic acid solutions UN3265 where classified (indicative)
Low hazard. The main regulatory risk is claims: 'biodegradable' labels that do not hold outside industrial composting.
Main rules
Where
Rule
Effect
EU
EN 13432 industrial compostability; Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (2025) with mandatory compostable tea bags and stickers (indicative)
Supports PLA in narrow uses; recyclability targets favour PET and PE elsewhere.
EU
Single-Use Plastics Directive 2019/904
Treats bio-based and compostable single-use items as plastic, so PLA cups are not exempt (indicative).
US
ASTM D6400; state compostable labelling laws
Sets certification for compostable claims.
India
Rule
Effect
Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2021 single-use plastic ban (from July 2022); 2024 amendment on compostable and biodegradable plastics labelling and CPCB certification (indicative)
Compostable items allowed with certification; enforcement is the main hurdle (S&P Global, 2026).
IS 17088 compostability standard (indicative)
Indian test standard for compostable plastics
Trade measures
No anti-dumping duty on PLA found in sources reached; US tariffs on Chinese materials add uncertainty (Procurement Resource 2025)
Supply risk
Few large producers outside China, so a NatureWorks or TotalEnergies Corbion outage tightens supply. Feedstock risk is sugar price and harvests. Not on critical lists.