Methylene chloride
What is the rule status for Methylene chloride?
For Methylene chloride, rule status is Final; final rule date is April 2024; effective date is Most prohibited uses will be fully phased out within 2 years; most workplaces have 18 months after finalization to comply with the Workplace Chemical Protection Program (extended by 18 months for non-federal laboratories in November 2025); prohibited uses is Manufacturing, processing and distribution of methylene chloride for all consumer uses; most industrial and commercial uses, including paint and coating removers (consumer paint and coating removal was prohibited in 2019); exemptions is Uses continuing under the Workplace Chemical Protection Program include production of other chemicals, production of battery separators for electric vehicles, use as a processing aid in a closed system, laboratory chemical use, plastic and rubber manufacturing, solvent welding, and specific uses required by NASA, the Department of War, and the FAA, recorded from its source on 2026-08-18; source re-checked 2026-09-27.
In April 2024, EPA finalized prohibitions and workplace protections under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for methylene chloride to protect human health.
— epa.gov, retrieved 2026-08-18
- Chemical
- Methylene chloride verified
- Rule status
- Final our reading
- Final rule date
- April 2024 verified
- Effective date
- Most prohibited uses will be fully phased out within 2 years; most workplaces have 18 months after finalization to comply with the Workplace Chemical Protection Program (extended by 18 months for non-federal laboratories in November 2025)
- Prohibited uses
- Manufacturing, processing and distribution of methylene chloride for all consumer uses; most industrial and commercial uses, including paint and coating removers (consumer paint and coating removal was prohibited in 2019)
- Exemptions
- Uses continuing under the Workplace Chemical Protection Program include production of other chemicals, production of battery separators for electric vehicles, use as a processing aid in a closed system, laboratory chemical use, plastic and rubber manufacturing, solvent welding, and specific uses required by NASA, the Department of War, and the FAA
Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.
Source
- epa.govhttps://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-management-methylene-chloride