The FCM positive list has been updated by Japan MHLW

On 26 December 2022, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan released a notice containing new requirements for several substances to its food contact materials (FCMs) positive list for polymers.

On April 2020, the ministry published its first draft positive list of substances under the amended Food Sanitation Act of Article 18(3), which became effective on 1 June 2020. Companies were granted a five-year transition period until 31 May 2025, during which they may comply with the regulation. Enforcement is set to begin on 1 June 2025.

Substances on the positive list are currently divided into two tables:

The revision of table 1 for polymers is based on industry comments on the April 2022 proposed draft tables. A revised draft of table 2 for additives is anticipated to be released in early 2023.

The ministry has revised numerous existing compounds, such as ester of methacrylic acid with ethylene glycol, aromatic hydrocarbon and ethylene glycol or oxirane with new standards, limits, and conditions for use. For several compounds like 1, 4-butanediamine, butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, etc. the ministry eliminated the pre-existing standards.

The MHLW has also updated the names of compounds in English and Japanese as well as the CAS and code numbers in the notice.