Safety data sheets and labelling for 1469 chemicals will be mandatory in Japan

On 16 March 2023, Japan announced the inclusion of 1,469 substances to the list of chemicals for which companies are required to maintain safety data sheets (SDSs) and labels that comply with the UN's Globally Harmonised System of classification and labelling (GHS) in accordance with the country's Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA).

There will be two phases of enforcement. The list of substances in Appendix 1 of the notice has a proposed enforcement date of April 2025, and the list of substances in Appendix 2 has a proposed enforcement date of April 2026; however, according to the WTO notice these dates are subject to change.

There are total 651 substances included in Appendix 1 examples are-

Appendix 2 consists of total 818 substances which includes-

In Japan, the GHS is implemented under three laws, which include the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHL), the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Law, and the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act (PDSCL).

According to the MHLW, it will be necessary for companies to label containers or packages containing the chemicals with specific information, including the substance name, based on the sixth revised edition of the GHS.