Japan Regulatory News

On 21 June 2024, Japan took a significant step in chemical safety management by releasing an updated list of new and revised Globally Harmonized System (GHS) classifications for 160 chemical substance...

On 21 June 2024, Japan took a significant step in chemical safety management by releasing an updated list of new and revised Globally Harmonized System (GHS) classifications for 160 chemical substances. This update was published by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

This GHS classification was performed based on the information sources and guidance for classification and evaluation which are described in the GHS Classification Guidance for the Japanese Government etc.

Details of the Update:

• New Classifications: The update includes 48 newly classified substances such as Oxiran-2-ylmethyl neodecanoate (CAS 26761-45-5) and Cycloaliphatic epoxy resin (CAS 2386-87-0).
• Revised Classifications: It also revises the classifications for 112 existing substances, including 1,2-Dichloropropane (CAS 78-87-5) and Cellosolve acetate (CAS 111-15-9).

Comprehensive Information:

The detailed list is available in both Japanese and English. It includes the following critical information for each substance:

• Hazard Class
• Pictogram
• Signal Word
• Hazard and Precautionary Statements
• Classification Rationale
• CAS Numbers
• Reference Materials

The classifications were finalized during the fiscal year 2023, from 1 April 2023, to 31 March 2024.

Implications for Companies:

While companies are encouraged to use this updated list as a reference when preparing GHS-based labels or Safety Data Sheets (SDS), it is not mandatory. Companies may choose to use other test results and information sources to support their labels and SDS content.

Japan follows the sixth revised edition of the UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. Currently, Japan's GHS list includes a total of 3376 substances. This update reinforces Japan's commitment to chemical safety and aligns with global standards for chemical classification and labelling. Companies involved in the production, handling or use of these substances should review the new classifications to ensure compliance and safety.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has proposed significant amendments to the procedures related to the manufacture of Class I Specified Chemical Substances under the Enforcement...

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has proposed significant amendments to the procedures related to the manufacture of Class I Specified Chemical Substances under the Enforcement Regulations of the Law Concerning the Examination and Regulation of Manufacture, etc. of Chemical Substances. The proposed changes which aims to facilitate the transition to an electronic application system, were announced in a consultation notice on 25 May 2024. The public consultation period is set to conclude on 23 June 2024.

Class I and II Specified Chemical Substances

Under Japan's Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL), Class I Specified Chemical Substances are those that have been assessed as being persistent, highly bioaccumulative, or posing a risk of long-term toxicity to human health and the environment. Manufacturers and importers of these substances must obtain a permit prior to manufacture and import. Class II Specified Chemical Substances are characterized by a risk to human health and/or the environment due to long-term toxicity, with a substantial amount remaining in the environment over large areas.

Details of the Proposed Changes

METI has clarified the conditions under which 'minor changes' notifications are required. Licensed manufacturers of Class I Specified Chemical Substances will be exempt from notifying METI if changes to manufacturing equipment do not pose a risk of leakage and do not change manufacturing capacity.

Additionally, METI's proposed amendments include the adoption of the existing annual reporting format for e-submissions, which includes monthly manufacturing, inventory, use, and storage volumes.

The transition to an online application system will require the use of electronic signatures for applications and notifications, including those related to Class II Specified Chemical Substances and the products in which they are used.

The proposed amendments are set to come into force upon promulgation, which is expected in July.

Japan will implement a ban on 21 products containing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) isomers, their salts and PFOA-related compounds, as announced on 26 April 2024. This significant move by the Ministry...

Japan will implement a ban on 21 products containing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) isomers, their salts and PFOA-related compounds, as announced on 26 April 2024. This significant move by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Environment (MOE) is a crucial step towards protecting the environment and public health.

Amendments to Chemical Substance Regulations

The proposal will amend the Order for Enforcement of the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of their Manufacture to designate certain substances as Class I Specified Chemical Substances:

• PFOA with a branched structure and eight carbon atoms and its salts.

• PFOA-related compounds, including perfluorooctyl iodide (PFOI) and 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH).

• Compounds (with seven carbon atoms) containing a pentadecafluoroalkyl group directly bonded to a carbon atom and containing perfluorooctanoic acid or perfluoroalkane acid with a branched structure and eight carbon atoms as a result of a natural chemical reaction.

When a substance is designated as a Class 1 Specified Chemical Substance its manufacture, import, and use are generally prohibited in accordance with the provisions of the Cabinet Order.

Import Bans

The proposed ban will specifically prohibit the import of the following:

Transitional Measures

In order to facilitate a smooth transition, the proposal includes several measures:

• Medical Devices: The use of 8:2 FTOH for the manufacture of invasive and implantable medical devices will be allowed until 3 December 2025.

• Pharmaceutical Products: Use of PFOI for the manufacture of perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) allowed until 31 December 2036.

• Manufacturing Permits: Companies can apply for permits to manufacture PFOI and 8:2 FTOH before the enforcement date, effective upon approval.

• Permit the temporary use of fire extinguishers, fire extinguishing agents and fire extinguishing foam that contain PFOA isomers and salts.

Technical Standards and Environmental Protection

The proposal also stipulates technical standards for manufacturing facilities that handle PFOI and related substances. Additionally, companies will have to include environmental protection information on containers, packaging or invoices for these substances.

Consultation and Enforcement Timeline

The authorities plan to review feedback from Council members and other organizations before finalizing the draft Order for PFOA-related compounds. This review will take place after June but before the enforcement date.

Consultation Period: Ended on 25 May 2024

Public Notice Announcement: Expected in July

Enforcement Date: January 2025 for the general ban; September 2024 for PFOA with a branched structure and eight carbon atoms as a Class I Specified Chemical Substance.

Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has allocated funding for three pioneering projects dedicated to understanding the health effects associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)...

Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has allocated funding for three pioneering projects dedicated to understanding the health effects associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The three projects were selected by the PFAS Research Steering Committee from a pool of 14 submissions received by the MOE following a call for proposals from 26 December 2023 to 5 February 2024.

Under the overarching theme of Comprehensive Research on PFAS, the selected projects are as follows:

1. Hyogo Medical University: This project aims to conduct experimental validation to shed light on the immunosuppressive and immune-promoting effects of PFAS in the context of immunological diseases.
2. National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS): Focused on innovation, this project endeavors to develop a hazard assessment methodology grounded in gene expression analysis. Such an approach seeks to facilitate prioritization and holistic evaluation in the context of PFAS regulation.
3. Hokkaido University: Embarking on a multidimensional exploration, this comprehensive initiative aims to elucidate the health effects of PFASs, taking into account toxicological impacts, mechanisms of toxicity development and interspecies variations. This integrated study merges environmental epidemiology and toxicology to provide a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

On 12 April 2024, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) formally notified the World Trade Orga...

On 12 April 2024, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) formally notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the revision of the Order for Enforcement of the Act on the Regulation of Manufacture and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (the Act).

Key Revisions to the Act

5. Designation of Class I Specified Chemical Substances: Pursuant to Articles 17 and 22 of the Act, the following substances will now require authorization for manufacture or import:

   • PFOA isomers or their salts and PFOA related compounds.

5. Designation of Permitted Chemical Substances and Uses: Article 25 of the Act allows the use of the following substances for a specified period of time.

   • 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol, used in the manufacture of invasive and implantable medical devices, permitted until 3 December 2025.

   • Perfluorooctyl iodide, for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, permitted until 31 December 2036.

5. Prohibition on Import of Products: Under Article 24 of the Act, the import of following products containing PFOA isomers or their salts, and PFOA-related compounds will be prohibited.

Addressing Environmental Concerns: Objective of the Revision

The objective of the revision is to address environmental concerns arising from the non-biodegradability, bioaccumulation potential and chronic toxicity of PFOA isomers or their salts and PFOA-related compounds. The decision is in line with the decisions taken at the Ninth Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2019.

Timeline and Procedure:

Proposed Adoption Date: June 2024.

Proposed Entry into Force: The revised regulations will take effect in two phases. Firstly, the designation of PFOA isomers or their salts is proposed to take effect in August 2024. Subsequently, the designation of PFOA-related compounds and the addition of banned products are scheduled to take effect in December 2024.

Deadline for Comments: Stakeholders have 60 days from the date of notification to provide feedback.

The revision underscores Japan's commitment to environmental protection and public health by regulating hazardous chemical substances and their uses.

In a significant step to protect the environment and public health, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of Environme...

In a significant step to protect the environment and public health, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of Environment (MOE) have jointly initiated a consultation on the designation of certain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) isomers, their salts, and PFOA-related compounds as Class I Specified Chemical Substances under the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL).

The proposed ban, if enacted, would affect the manufacture, import, and use of these substances throughout Japan. The consultation period commenced on 1 February 2024 and is set to conclude on 1 March 2024.

Details of the proposed ban and classification framework

Under the CSCL framework, chemicals are classified on the basis of their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity upon continued exposure to the environment. The substances targeted in this proposal have been identified as exhibiting characteristics of being persistent, highly bioaccumulative, or toxic to humans over the long term.

Prohibited and exempted substances

Specifically, the proposal seeks to designate the following substances as Class I Specified Chemical Substances:

• Perfluoroalkane acid with a branched structure and eight carbon atoms and its salts.
• PFOA-related compounds including perfluorooctyl iodide, 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol, and compounds with the pentadecafluoroalkyl group bonded directly to the carbon atom, resulting from natural chemical reactions with PFOA or perfluoroalkane acid with a branched structure and eight carbon atoms.

Highlights of the ban on specific products containing PFOA and PFOA-related compounds are summarized in table below:

Notably, the proposal includes exemptions for two essential uses of PFOA:

• Perfluorooctyl iodide (PFOI) intended for the production of perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) for pharmaceutical products.
• 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) for the manufacture of invasive and implantable medical devices.

International alignment

Japan’s approach to regulation PFOA will be in line with international limits on PFOA under the UN's Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

On 9 January 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) issued a key notice to guide companies in complying with new requirements for safety data sheets (SDSs) and Globally Harm...

On 9 January 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) issued a key notice to guide companies in complying with new requirements for safety data sheets (SDSs) and Globally Harmonized System (GHS) based labels for hazardous substances under the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA). These requirements are set to become mandatory from 1 April 2024.

Key requirements outlined by the MHLW include:

A. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must include:

• CAS numbers and substance names
• Physical and chemical properties of the substance, including colour, odour, melting/freezing point, boiling point and flammability.
• Information on appropriate protective equipment and storage/handling precautions.
• Specific information on human health effects following exposure, such as acute toxicity, serious eye damage/irritation, respiratory/skin sensitization, reproductive toxicity, and germ cell mutagenicity.
• Accident and emergency management procedures in case of leakage and other incidents, including evacuation measures and use of protective equipment.
• Description of the content in terms of concentration or weight percentage, or provision of a conversion formula to enable users to convert to weight percentage.
• Recommended uses and restrictions on use including conditions to avoid and incompatible materials.
• Product ingredients classified as confidential must be clearly identified with a summary description; companies may use non-disclosure agreements for such information. Exceptions apply to substances regulated by specific ordinances.

B. Packaging labels must include:

• The name of the substance (must be identical to the name in the SDS). The product name may be used if it allows identification.
• GHS hazard classifications (according to standard JISZ7252:2019) with details for each substance in a mixture if the mixture itself is not classified
• Possible harmful effects on the human body
• Hazards with pictograms and warnings
• Storage and handling instructions, including measures to prevent exposure.
• Name, address, and telephone number of the person making the label and information on the domestic manufacturer/importer.
• Emergency contact telephone numbers
• Signal word
• Information on the stability and reactivity of the substance, including storage conditions, handling precautions, decomposition, and mixing with incompatible substances.

Companies are urged to bring their practices into line with these regulations without delay to ensure compliance by the specified deadline. Failure to do so may result in penalties or legal consequences. The MHLW emphasizes the importance of these measures in improving workplace safety and minimizing the risks associated with hazardous substances.