OSHA's Beryllium Standard establishes strict permissible exposure limits and requires employers handling beryllium — including at receiving and warehousing operations — to implement exposure control plans, provide medical surveillance, and use engineering controls. Importers who take physical possession of beryllium powder or scrap should review OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1024 and ensure their facilities and personnel meet these requirements before the shipment arrives.

The US government's critical-mineral designation for beryllium reflects both its defense-sector importance and the limited number of global producers. Buyers in aerospace and defense supply chains often face qualification requirements tied to specific producers, and any supply disruption — whether from a single mine or refiner — can have outsized impact. Maintaining approved alternative sources and strategic inventory is a common risk-mitigation approach.