SG 28/24
Japan has launched a one-month consultation on its proposal to designate PFOA isomers, their salts and PFOA-related compounds as Class I Specified Chemical Substances. Comments are accepted until March 1, 2024.
On February 1, 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (WHLW) and other competent authorities announced a proposal to regulate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) isomers, their salts and PFOA-related compounds.
The proposal contains several important provisions. It:
- Designates PFOA isomers, their salts and PFOA-related compounds, including perfluorooctyl iodide (CAS 507-63-1) and 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (CAS 678-39-7), as Class 1 Specified Chemical Substances under the nation’s ‘Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of their Manufacture, etc.’ (also known as the Chemical Substances Control Law, CSCL)
- Prohibits the manufacture and import of PFOA isomers, their salts and PFOA-related compounds from the winter of 2024
- Prohibits the import of designated products containing PFOA isomers, their salts and PFOA-related compounds.
- Prohibits the use of PFOA isomers, their salts and PFOA-related compounds for applications other than approved (essential) uses
- Establishes technical standards for the handling of specified products that use these Class I Specified Chemical Substances (point 4 to proposal)
Highlights of the ban on specific products that contain PFOA and PFOA-related compounds are summarized in Table 1.
| Substance | Products prohibited from import |
|---|---|
| PFOA isomers and their salts |
|
PFOA-related substances:
(and other PFOA-related substances specified by the authorities) |
|
Table 1
According to the announcement, comments on the proposal will be accepted until March 1, 2024.
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