The FOSFA banned list is FOSFA’s List of Banned Immediate Previous Cargoes. It names products that must not be the last cargo in a tank before it loads vegetable oils, animal fats or oleochemicals. The current edition took effect on 1 September 2026 and has 53 entries.
This page gives the full 2026 list, the extra rules on earlier cargoes, how to check a tank and what NOBL means.
What Is the FOSFA Banned List?
The FOSFA banned list names products that may not be the immediate previous cargo in a ship’s tank before an oil or fat cargo. It applies when the sale contract refers to it, which most FOSFA contracts do.
The list protects food and feed oils from residues that cleaning cannot reliably remove. It also sets restrictions on cargoes before the last one.
The version in force on the bill of lading date applies, not the version on the contract date.
FOSFA Banned List 2026
The FOSFA List of Banned Immediate Previous Cargoes, revised and effective 1 September 2026, contains the 53 entries below. Products marked * have extra restrictions on earlier cargoes.
| Banned product | Also known as |
|---|---|
| Acetone cyanohydrin | ACH; 2-methyllactonitrile |
| Acrylic acid | propenoic acid |
| Acrylonitrile | ACN; vinyl cyanide |
| Adiponitrile | 1,4-dicyanobutane |
| Aniline | phenylamine; aminobenzene |
| n-Butylacrylate | — |
| tert-Butylacrylate | — |
| Carbon tetrachloride | CTC; tetrachloromethane |
| Cardura E | glycidyl esters of versatic acid |
| Cashew nut shell oil | CNSL; cashew nut shell liquid |
| Crude mineral oil | — |
| Dibutylamine | — |
| Diethanolamine | DEA |
| Diethylenetriamine | — |
| Di-isopropylamine | — |
| Dipropylamine | — |
| m-Divinylbenzene | DVB; vinylstyrene |
| Epichlorohydrin | EPI; chloropropylene oxide |
| Epoxy resins (uncured) | — |
| Ethanolamine | MEA; monoethanolamine |
| Ethyl acrylate | — |
| Ethylene dichloride* | EDC; 1,2-dichloroethane |
| 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate | 2-EHA |
| Ethylenediamine | 1,2-diaminoethane |
| Furfuryl alcohol | furyl carbinol |
| Glutaraldehyde | — |
| Heavy mineral oil | — |
| Heavy oils other than crude | density over 950 kg/m³ at 15°C or viscosity over 180 mm²/s at 50°C; base oil excluded |
| Hexamethylenediamine | HMDA; 1,6-diaminohexane |
| Isocyanates | TDI, MDI, PAPI, methyl isocyanate |
| N-Methylaniline | — |
| Lube oil additives | — |
| Methyl acrylate | — |
| Methyl methacrylate monomer | MMA |
| Methyl styrene monomer | vinyl toluene |
| alpha-Methyl styrene monomer | AMS |
| para-Methyl styrene monomer | PMS |
| Morpholine | tetrahydro-1,4-oxazine |
| Morpholine ethanol | n-hydroxyethylmorpholine |
| Palm oil residue oils | POME oil, EFB oil, spent bleaching earth oil and derivatives |
| Perchloroethylene | PCE; tetrachloroethylene |
| Phthalates | DAP, DIDP, DINP, DIOP, DOP |
| n-Propylamine | — |
| Propylene oxide | methyl oxirane |
| Pyridine | — |
| Styrene monomer* | vinylbenzene; phenylethylene |
| Tall oil | tallol; liquid rosin |
| Tall oil fatty acid | TOFA |
| Transformer oils of PCB type | — |
| Used cooking oil | UCO |
| Used cooking oil methyl esters | UCOME |
| Vinyl acetate monomer | VAM |
| Vinyl chloride monomer | VCM; chloroethene |
Always check the original FOSFA document before fixing a ship, because synonyms and trade names can hide a banned product.
What Changed in the 2026 FOSFA Banned List?
The September 2026 edition adds N-methylaniline compared with the September 2024 edition. All other entries and the restrictions beyond the immediate previous cargo are unchanged.
What Are the Restrictions Beyond the Immediate Previous Cargo?
Leaded products must not be any of the last three cargoes in any tank. Ethylene dichloride and styrene monomer have extra limits that depend on the tank coating.
| Product | Organic coated tanks (e.g. epoxy) | Stainless steel or inorganic coated tanks (e.g. zinc silicate) |
|---|---|---|
| Leaded products | Not in the last three cargoes | Not in the last three cargoes |
| Ethylene dichloride (EDC) | Not in the last three cargoes | Not the last cargo |
| Styrene monomer | Not in the last three cargoes | Not the last cargo |
Organic coatings can absorb these chemicals and release them into a later cargo. That is why the rule reaches further back for coated tanks.
How Do You Check a Tank Against the FOSFA Banned List?
Check the contract first, then the last three cargoes, the tank coating and whether each earlier cargo filled at least 60% of the tank. FOSFA’s decision chart sets out the order.
- Contract: confirm the contract refers to the FOSFA banned list.
- Leaded products: reject if any of the last three cargoes was leaded, whatever the quantity.
- Immediate previous cargo: reject if it is on the banned list, whatever the quantity.
- EDC and styrene: apply the tank-coating rules above.
- Earlier cargoes: work back to the first qualifying cargo, one that filled at least 60% of the tank. Reject if a banned product appears.
- Accept: the tank passes if no step leads to rejection, subject to the other contract terms.
Smaller part cargoes under 60% are still recorded on the previous-cargo declaration.
What Does NOBL Mean on a Chemical Tanker?
NOBL means “not on banned list”. A last cargo described as NOBL was not on the FOSFA banned list, so the tank can be considered for oils and fats.
Fixtures often name the list being used, such as “last cargo FOSFA” or “last cargo NIOP”. NIOP is the National Institute of Oilseed Products in the United States, which publishes its own acceptable previous cargo lists.
How Is the Banned List Different From the Acceptable List?
The banned list says which previous cargoes are forbidden, while the acceptable list says which previous cargoes are allowed. Under an acceptable-list contract, any product not on that list is rejected.
FOSFA contracts use the banned list by default. The acceptable list applies only when the contract adds it. The FOSFA acceptable list page explains that list and the EU and Codex versions.
Why Are These Products Banned?
The products on the banned list are toxic, react or polymerise easily, or leave residues that normal tank cleaning may not remove. Traces could make an edible oil unfit for food or feed.
- Amines, acrylates and isocyanates: reactive chemicals that can taint oil even in small traces.
- Chlorinated solvents: such as carbon tetrachloride and perchloroethylene, which are toxic.
- Heavy and crude oils: hard to clean out and a source of hydrocarbon contamination.
- PCB transformer oils: persistent toxic compounds.
- Used cooking oil, UCOME and palm residue oils: contamination and traceability risks in the food chain.
Are There Other Banned Previous Cargo Lists?
Yes. Codex Alimentarius includes acceptable and banned lists in its code of practice for storage and transport of edible fats and oils in bulk. China also publishes its own lists.
China checks the last three cargoes. The immediate previous cargo must be on its acceptable list, and the two before it must not be on its banned list. Always check the destination’s rules as well as the contract.
Where Can You Get the Official FOSFA Banned List?
The official lists, with their decision charts, are published on the FOSFA previous cargoes page. Use the version in force on the bill of lading date.
What Do Inspectors Check?
Before loading, a cargo superintendent checks the last three cargoes against the banned list, the tank coating, tank cleanliness and the cleaning records. A failed tank must be cleaned again or left empty.
- Previous-cargo declaration: the last three cargoes per tank, with quantities and dates.
- Tank coating: type and condition, matched to the EDC and styrene rules.
- Cleanliness: clean, dry and odour-free tanks, lines and heating coils.
- Records: cleaning logs and certificates, and the ship’s cargo records under MARPOL Annex II.
Oils and fats are mostly carried in chemical tankers, so charterers also look at the ship’s vetting inspection history.
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FOSFA banned list?
The FOSFA banned list is the List of Banned Immediate Previous Cargoes: products that must not be the last cargo in a tank before it loads oils or fats under a FOSFA contract.
What is the latest FOSFA banned list?
The latest edition was revised and took effect on 1 September 2026. It has 53 entries and adds N-methylaniline compared with the September 2024 edition.
Are leaded products on the FOSFA banned list?
Leaded products are covered by a separate rule: they must not be any of the last three cargoes in any tank, whatever the tank coating.
Is used cooking oil on the FOSFA banned list?
Yes. Used cooking oil (UCO) and used cooking oil methyl esters (UCOME) are both on the FOSFA banned list.
What does NOBL mean?
NOBL means not on banned list. It describes a last cargo that is not on the FOSFA banned list, so the tank can be considered for oils and fats.
Which FOSFA banned list version applies to a shipment?
The version in force on the bill of lading date applies, not the version in force when the contract was signed.
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