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.
Severe burns, violent heat release on dilution, and SO2/SO3 releases from plants. Acid attacks have led to retail sale controls in India and the UK.
Main rules
Where
Rule
Effect
EU
REACH registration; Industrial Emissions Directive BAT conclusions for large volume inorganic chemicals; Regulation (EU) 2019/1148 on explosives precursors (acid above 15% restricted for the general public)
Sets SO2 emission limits for plants and restricts consumer sales
US
EPA New Source Performance Standards for sulphuric acid plants (40 CFR 60 Subpart H); OSHA PSM for oleum
Limits SO2 and acid mist emissions
China
Export quota then export suspension (2026)
Removed about 2.8 Mt from world trade
India
Rule
Effect
MSIHC Rules 1989 (hazardous chemical schedule)
Safety reports, on-site emergency plans and notification for large storages
Poisons Act state rules and Supreme Court directions on acid sales (Laxmi v Union of India, 2013)
Retail buyers must show ID and sellers keep registers; over-the-counter sale is restricted
BIS IS 266 specification for sulphuric acid
Sets grades and purity for commercial acid
Trade measures
China export suspension of smelter and sulphur-burner acid from May 2026, electronic grade excepted (S&P Global)
US tariff on HS 2807 is free (USGS 2026)
No Indian anti-dumping duty on sulphuric acid found
Supply risk
Acid supply depends on sulphur from the Gulf (over 45% of seaborne sulphur) and on Chinese smelter acid, both disrupted in 2026. Acid is not on major critical lists; sulphur was assessed in the EU's 2023 criticality study, and phosphate rock, its main customer, is on the EU critical list.