Overview

Amazon requires every product on its platform to meet the United States Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) standards, a federal rule overseen by the EPA that bans chemicals harmful to people or the environment. Starting now, sellers must verify that none of the listed items contain methylene chloride, chrysotile asbestos, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene, and they must prepare for additional bans on persistent, bio‑accumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals in 2026 and on perchloroethylene‑containing goods in 2027. Failure to comply can trigger listing removals, inventory freezes, and account‑health penalties.

Key Points

• Mandatory TSCA adherence — Every Amazon listing is subject to federal chemical rules, and sellers bear full responsibility for confirming compliance before publishing a product.
• Four chemicals already prohibited — Amazon blocks items that contain methylene chloride, chrysotile asbestos, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene, with phased‑in dates for the latter two.
• Future bans on PBTs — Starting in 2026, any product that includes EPA‑listed persistent, bio‑accumulative, and toxic substances will be disallowed.
• Upcoming perchloroethylene phase‑in — Beginning in 2027, adhesives, stainless‑steel polish, and similar consumer goods that contain perchloroethylene will be removed from the catalog.
• Broad category impact — Paint‑stripper kits, automotive brake parts, furniture‑care cleaners, aerosol degreasers, tire‑sealant tubes, and novelty bubble‑light items are among the groups most likely to be affected.
• Non‑compliance consequences — Amazon will delete non‑conforming listings, may suspend inventory, and can downgrade overall account health metrics.

How TSCA Compliance Works

1. Gather Safety Data Sheets (SDS) — Pull the latest SDS for each chemical‑based product; for example, a paint‑removal gel’s SDS will list methylene chloride if present.
2. Cross‑check against EPA’s restricted list — Compare the ingredient table from the SDS with the EPA’s published TSCA ban list; a tire‑sealant that lists trichloroethylene will flag as non‑compliant.