Why detergents must break down after they go down drains
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
skin and eye irritation or damage; aquatic toxicity (acute 1 or chronic 3 for many); LABSA corrosive (indicative)
UN2586 (LABSA); UN3082 (some ethoxylates)
Ethylene oxide handling at ethoxylation plants; 1,4-dioxane traces in ethoxylated products; aquatic toxicity where sewage is untreated.
only readily biodegradable surfactants in detergents (indicative)
US
EPA Safer Choice; state limits on 1,4-dioxane in cleaning and personal-care products (New York)
pushes dioxane stripping and alternatives (indicative)
EU
EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) covering palm oil derivatives
traceability for palm-based surfactants (indicative)
India
Rule
Effect
Anti-dumping duty on LAB from Iran and Qatar, 2025-2030
raises LAS feed cost (lab tile)
LAB (Quality Control) Order 2022, suspended 1 April-1 July 2026
BIS certification for LAB imports (lab tile)
Factories Act and MSIHC Rules for EO storage
strict siting for ethoxylation (indicative)
Trade measures
US reciprocal tariff on Indian exports cut from 50% to 18% (Galaxy Q3 FY26)
EU-India FTA expected to cut 4-6% duties to zero (Galaxy Q3 FY26)
India ADD on LAB from Iran and Qatar
Supply risk
Feedstock risk is the main issue: lauric oils come mostly from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, and LAB for India from the Gulf through Hormuz. EO-based ethoxylation is tied to local EO supply.