On March 31, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Ministry of the Environment jointly announced a proposed partial revision to the Notice on Indications to be Made on Containers, Packaging or Invoices of Products Using PFOS, PFOA, Perfluorooctanoic Acid-Related Substances or PFHxS for Preventing Environmental Pollution Caused by Class I Specified Chemical Substances, based on the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL) and its Enforcement Order. Public comments are being accepted from the same date until April 30, 2026. The revised notice is expected to take effect on June 17, 2026.
Revision Background
Pursuant to Article 29, Paragraph 1 of the CSCL, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Minister of the Environment are required to issue public notices specifying, for each Class I Specified Chemical Substance, the indications to be made on containers, packaging or invoices regarding measures to prevent environmental pollution caused by such substances.
Main Revisions
Under the Cabinet Order Partially Amending the Enforcement Order of the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc. (Cabinet Order No. 416 of 2025), perfluorohexane-1-sulfonic acid (PFHxS)-related substances have been newly designated as Class I Specified Chemical Substances. At the same time, fire extinguishers, fire extinguishing agents for fire extinguishers, and foam fire extinguishing agents that use these substances have been added to the list of products subject to the obligation to comply with the technical standards set forth in Article 28, Paragraph 2 of the CSCL.
Accordingly, the core of this revision is to stipulate that PFHxS-related substances are among the items that must be indicated on the containers, packaging or invoices of products. That is, containers, packaging or invoices of products containing such substances must state that they contain Class I Specified Chemical Substances.
Furthermore, additional products are expected to be added in the future to those subject to the obligation to comply with the technical standards under Article 28, Paragraph 2 of the CSCL.
How to Submit Comments
The public is requested to follow the submission requirements shown on the official website and submit comments via the e-Gov electronic government portal, by mail, or by email before the deadline.
