Japan to Restrict PFHxS and Related Substances and Products From 2025

In August, 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) jointly released a draft measure under the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL) concerning perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and its related substances. The draft is open for public comments until September 5, 2024.

Background

The release of this draft measure is based on the decisions of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which during its tenth Conference of the Parties in 2022, decided to add PFHxS, its salts, and related substances to Annex A (prohibited for use). The convention aims to eliminate the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that pose long-term risks to the environment and human health. In compliance with this international resolution, Japan will implement the following measures starting from 2025:

(1) Production and Import Prohibition

Japan will principally prohibit the production and import of PFHxS-related substances unless specifically permitted.

(2) Prohibition on Importing Products Containing PFHxS-Related Substances

(3) Use Restrictions

The use of PFHxS-related substances will be prohibited, except for certain essential uses that cannot find substitutes and do not harm the environment or human health.

(4) Operational Technical Standards

Specific operational technical standards must be followed when handling fire extinguishers, fire extinguishing agents for fire extinguishers, and foam fire extinguishing agents containing PFHxS-related substances to prevent environmental pollution.