Japan plans to prohibit perfluorohexane sulfonic acid

During the Chemical Materials Japan 2022 virtual conference, which took place between 17 and 28 October 2022, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) announced their intention to amend the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL) to prohibit perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and associated compounds next year.

As per the METI, the PFHxS, its salts and related compounds are expected to be designated as class I specified chemical substances. Under CSCL, Class I Specified Chemical Substances are substances that are persistent, highly bioaccumulative, and have a risk of long-term toxicity to humans or predator animals at higher trophic levels. The manufacture, import and use of such substances are prohibited in Japan.

This action aims to bring Japan into compliance with a global ban on the material decided upon by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in June 2022. The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions are multilateral environmental agreements, which share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes.

PFHxS is a chemical compound used to make firefighting foams, non-stick cookware, carpet, paper, and fabric stain treatments. It belongs to the group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFASs), whose environmental persistence and presence in water have drawn increasing public scrutiny in recent years. Millions of people will benefit from the decision to prohibit PFHxS, especially firemen who are among those most exposed due to PFHxS's inclusion in firefighting foam.

The ministries of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), METI and MOE will meet after November 2022 to review the strategy.