Request a Demo
On February 18, 2023, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of Environment (MoE) consulted on a ban on the manufacture and import of PFHxS and its salts and the import of some product types containing them via a partial revision to the Enforcement Ordinance of the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL). Comments are welcome before March 19, 2023.
PFHxS, its salts and related compounds were listed in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in June 2022. They are a subset of a broad group of synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This group of POPs is a priority for control under the CSCL. However, for PFHxS-related compounds, the Japanese authorities believe that the list of example substances given by POPRC is still controversial, and decided to postpone the bans.
The proposed amendments to CSCL Enforcement Ordinance include:
Ø PFHxS and its salts will be added to the list of Class I Specified Chemical Substances under CSCL, for which prior permission for manufacture and import activities (only R&D purposes are allowed) is required.
Ø 10 kinds of products, which use PFHxS and its salts will be prohibited from importation, including:
Fire extinguisher, extinguishing agent for fire extinguishers and foam extinguishing agent;
etching agent for metal processing;
Surface treatment agent for electroplating or additive for its preparation;
Textiles for oil and water repellency;
Clothes for oil and water repellency;
Floor coverings for oil and water repellency;
Water repellent, oil repellent and fiber protection agent;
Anti-reflective agent for semiconductors;
Etching agent for semiconductors;
Resist for semiconductors.
Ø “Essential uses” will be specified, except for which the other uses of PFHxS and its salts are prohibited.
Ø Fire extinguishers, extinguishing agents and foam extinguishing agents which use PFHxS and its salts shall comply with corresponding national technical standards.
It should be noted that so far none of the Class I Specified Chemical Substances has set "essential uses".
