On May 31, 2023, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) published “20230531 The draft of Table 1” and “20230531 The draft of Table 2” as the draft positive lists of base materials and additives.
The draft of the Positive List includes Table 1 and Table 2.
Table 1: Base materials (Base polymer)
Substances are classified to 5 Polymer Groups in Table 1 and each Polymer Group consists of polymers with different substances as the main monomer.
Polymer Group 1 to Group 5 are given as below:
Table2: Additives
In Table 2, substance name, and the value of use limit of each Polymer Group is specified. Requirements of substances are also specified.
Table 1: Base materials (Base polymer): Polymers (molecular weight 1,000 or more) in synthetic resins.
Table2: Additives: As a general rule, low molecular organic substances that have a molecular weight of less than 1,000 and that satisfy both of the following are those to be listed in the new draft of Table 2(additives).
- Substances that change the physical or chemical properties of a base material.
- Substances used with intent to remain in the final product without chemical reaction.
This amendment of the Positive List will be enforced on June 1, 2025.
