The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) of Japan recently issued a joint notification, calling on relevant companies to provide hazard information on ethyl hydrogen sulphates for a comprehensive risk assessment. All information must be submitted by mail or in person to the METI by November 22, 2024.

Japan announced that revisions to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act will be implemented.

The Global Chemical Inventory Search (GCIS) developed by CIRS Group supports users to search the latest inventory of chemicals globally by entering CAS number or substance name in both Chinese and English. It also provides obligation analysis for global chemical compliance. CIRS continuously monitors and updates to global chemical inventories regularly, trying to help users to know more details of compliance obligations of their substances.

Recently, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan issued an important notice under the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act, requiring relevant enterprises to submit reports by September 30, 2024, on the estimated production, extraction, refining, and use of designated substances in 2025. It aims to comply with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which was established in 1992 and ratified in 1995. Japan has been steadily implementing the obligations, including reporting and accepting international inspections.

Japan Adds 164 General Chemical Substances; South Korea Releases Hazard Assessments for 91 Chemicals and Revises 27 Announced Results.

Recently, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced revisions to the import clearance procedures related to the Chemical Substances Control Law. The new regulations aim to streamline processes and enhance the management efficiency of imported chemical substances, and took effect from July 1, 2024. These revisions will replace the previous version issued on December 4, 2023, which became obsolete on June 30, 2024.

Recently, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Meti), in conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment (MoE), announced a significant policy under the Act on Preventing Mercury Pollution of the Environment. The policy will phase out the production of ten specified products containing mercury, with set dates for the implementation of the bans. This measure will be gradually implemented starting in 2026, and it involves various types of batteries and lighting equipment, as well as certain industrial sensors.

Recently, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) jointly released the latest version of Japan's recommended Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) classification list on the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) website.

Japan launched GHS Classification Information Collection Project of 2024 Public-Private Cooperation, which requires companies to provide test reports for chemical substances.

Recently, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan released reporting guidelines regarding the manufacturing/import quantity for general chemicals, priority assessment chemicals, and monitoring chemicals. It aims to enhance the management of chemicals that pose potential environmental risks. The guidelines require companies that manufacture or import general chemicals, priority assessment chemicals of 1 ton or more, or monitoring chemicals of 1 kilogram or more during the fiscal year 2023 (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024), to submit a detailed report to the METI.