Japan to Ban PFOA for 13 Kinds of Imported Products from October 22

On August 30, 2021, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) published the partial revision to the Import Clearance Procedures for the Chemical Substances^[1] under the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc. (known as the “Chemical Substance Control Law” (CSCL)^[2]). The major amendments align with the revised CSCL Enforcement Ordinance (ChemLinked news^[3]) and will enter into force on October 22, 2021.

The major amendments include:

• Adding 2,2,2-trichloro-1-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-chlorophenyl) ethanol (also known as o,p’-Dicofol) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and/or its salts  into the Appendix 1 of the Regulation - List of Class I Specified Chemical Substances;

• Adding a total of 13 kinds of products into Appendix 2 of the Regulation as the products prohibited from importation if PFOA and/or its salts are used.

The 13 products are:

1. Water-resistant paper and oil-resistant paper

2. Water-repellent textiles and oil-repellent textiles

3. Cleaning agents

4. Anti-reflection agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors

5. Paints and varnish

6. Water repellent and oil repellent

7. Adhesives and sealing fillers

8. Fire extinguishers, fire-extinguishing agents, and fire-extinguishing foam

9. Toners

10. Water-resistant clothes and oil-resistant clothes

11. Water-repellent floor coverings and oil-repellent floor coverings

12. Floor waxes

13. Photographic paper