Japan Will Ban 138 Perfluorinated Substances by 2025

In accordance with the Chemical Substances Control Law, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of the Environment of Japan jointly released a draft plan on September 9, 2024, proposing to classify 138 perfluorinated compounds as Class I Specified Chemical Substances. The goal of this law is to outright forbid the production, importation, and usage of certain substances. 

The purpose of this proposal is to address the most recent decisions made by the Stockholm Convention, an international environmental agreement that aims to eliminate or severely limit the use and production of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Perfluoroalkyl acids (restricted to branching structures with eight carbons), their salts, and related chemicals were designated as substances to be phased out at the 9th Conference of the Parties to the agreement recently.

Following a collaborative assessment by the three ministries, 138 chemicals were considered suitable for classification as Class I Specified Chemical chemicals. Chemical substances classified as Class I Specifications are those that are extremely accumulative, difficult to break down, and potentially hazardous to humans or higher predators over an extended period of time. It is primarily forbidden to make, import, or use compounds that have been classified as Class I Specified Chemical compounds, or to import goods that include these substances.

The period of public consultation is September 9–October 9, 2024. The present plan calls for the revised notice to go into force on January 10, 2025, and for it to be announced in November 2024.

With regard to managing and minimizing the spread of POPs in the environment, this draft represents a major advancement for public health and environmental protection in Japan.