News Details
Japan to designate 3 chemicals as Class I Specified Chemical Substances under CSCL
On 3 October 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of the Environment (MoE) jointly released a draft proposal to designate three chemicals as Class I Specified Chemical Substances under the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL). The draft proposal was published on the same day on Japan’s e-GOV Public Comment Portal.
Following the decision at the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) held in April–May 2025, Japan plans to designate the following three substances as Class I Specified Chemical Substances:
- Chlorpyrifos (CAS: 2921-88-2; O,O-diethyl-O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl) phosphorothioate)
- Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (MCCPs): Linear chlorinated alkanes with 14–17 carbon atoms and ≥45 wt% chlorine.
- Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (Long-Chain PFCAs): Compounds with 9–21 carbon atoms, their salts, and PFCA-related substances that degrade into long-chain PFCAs in the environment.
Previous update in February 2025
Key Insights from the draft
Details which are proposed in the draft are:
- Prohibition on the manufacture, import, and non-essential use of chlorpyrifos, MCCPs, and long-chain PFCAs (including related substances).
- Application of technical handling standards for specific PFCA-containing products such as fire extinguishing and foaming agents.
- Ban on the import of products containing these substances, as listed below.
Chemical | Products to be banned from import |
Chlorpyrifos | Wood preservatives and insecticides |
MCCPs | Plasticizers for resins; flame retardant additives; lubricants and hydraulic oils; paints; adhesives and sealants; water repellents; textile protectants |
Long-chain PFCAs and related substances | Photographic films; lubricants; paints; water/oil repellents; adhesives; fire extinguishers and foams; waxes; water/oil-repellent treated fabrics, clothing, and carpets |
Obligations for Stakeholders
Once officially designated as Class I Specified Chemical Substances, these chemicals will be restricted from being manufactured, imported, and used, as well as used in products that include them, will be prohibited. They can only be utilized under essential circumstances or when a specific permit is obtained.
Comment Period and Enforcement Dates
Stakeholders are invited to comment on this draft till 2 November 2025. The ministries has not published the enforcement dates yet, but implementation is scheduled to start in the fiscal year 2026.
We acknowledge that the above information has been compiled from e-GOV Public Comment Portal - Japan.
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