Japan releases Implementation Report on CSCL for FY 2024

On 30 June 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) published its Implementation Report on the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL)  for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY2024) on its portal. METI releases this report annually to provide an update on the current status. The previous report, covering FY 2023, was released by METI on 21 June 2024. 

Key Insights from the Implementation Report 

1. Overview of the CSCL 

The CSCL aims to prevent environmental pollution caused by chemical substances that may harm human health or ecosystems. It mandates: 

• Pre-market evaluation of new chemical substances. 

• Post-market control through reporting on production/import volumes and toxicity information. 

• Regulatory designation of substances based on characteristics such as persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. 

Substance categories include: 

• Class I Specified Chemical Substances: Most strictly regulated. 

• Class II Specified Chemical Substances: Pose long-term risks. 

• Monitored Chemical Substances: Persistent and bioaccumulative but with unknown toxicity. 

• Priority Assessment Chemical Substances and General Substances: Subject to reporting and potential future regulation. 

2. Notifications and Preliminary Evaluations (FY2024) 

• 319 new chemical notifications were assessed, with most classified as low-risk. 

• Breakdown: 34 substances showed concern for both human and environmental health. 115 were classified as low risk. 

• 1,825 low-volume (≤10 tons/year) new chemical confirmations were submitted.  

• Over 37,000 small-volume (≤1 ton/year) notifications were submitted. 

• Main uses include: Intermediates, electronic materials, paints/coatings, cleaning agents, adhesives and fragrances. 

3. Post-Market Risk Management 

• Annual reporting is required for general and priority chemicals produced or imported at ≥1 ton/year. 

• Risk evaluations are conducted using usage volume, hazard data, and monitoring results. 

• 48 substances have undergone Tier II (advanced) evaluations to date. 

• Based on these assessments, some substances may be designated as Class II Specified Chemicals. 

4. Regulatory Measures Based on Chemical Characteristics 

• Substances such as PFHxS, chlorpyrifos, MCCP, and LC-PFCA are under discussion for designation as Class I Specified Chemicals, in line with international obligations (e.g., Stockholm Convention). 

• The public consultation and regulatory updates are scheduled through FY2025 and early FY2026. 

5. Monitoring and Control Data 

• Production and import data for Monitored Chemicals and Class II Specified Chemicals are tracked annually. 

• Notable reductions have been observed for high-risk substances such as trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene. 

• Reported hazards from companies include biodegradability, bioaccumulation, and human/ecotoxicity findings (over 200 reports in FY2024). 

The full report can be found here.