As of November 22, 2019, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulations have prohibited the manufacturing (including import), processing, and distribution of methylene chloride in all paint removers for consumers. The EPA is urging consumers to stop using products that contain methylene chloride that they may have already purchased.

The final regulation on methylene chloride for consumer paint and coating removal products was published on March 27, 2019. Methylene chloride has been shown to release toxic fumes that can turn to carbon monoxide in the lungs. A variety of effective, less harmful substitutes are available for paint removal.

It is important to note that these regulations only apply to consumer products, commercial use of products containing the substance remains legal.

EPA is continuing to work through the process outlined in TSCA to evaluate the risks with other uses of methylene chloride. This process is intended to evaluate available knowledge before taking action to manage the risk associated with the other uses of the chemical.

To learn more about methylene chloride visit the US EPA website.