Since 1 February 2024, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) has implemented the latest import clearance procedures for chemical substances under the Japanese CSCL. The following contents are listed for companies exporting to Japan.
For the clearance of different categories of chemical substances, documents should be submitted as shown in the table below:
| Classification of Chemical Substances |
Official Gazette Serial Number, etc. (Import Declaration/Invoice) |
Required Documents |
| Existing chemical substances | Notification Category Number | - |
| Publicly notified chemical substances | Serial number, Notification Category Number | - |
| Monitoring chemical substances | Serial number, Notification Category Number | - |
| Priority assessment chemical substances | Serial number, Notification Category Number | - |
| Class I specified chemical substances for specific purposes | - | Copy of the permit |
| Class I specified chemical substances for tests and research purposes | - | Form 1 document |
| Class II specified chemical substances | Number of Article 2 of the CSCL | - |
| New chemical substances（i）After receiving the determination notice | - | Copy of the determination notice |
| （ii）Test and research/reagent purposes | - | Form 2 document |
| （iii）Intermediate | - | Copy of the confirmation notice |
| （iv）New chemical substances in small volume | - | Confirmation notice and form 3 document |
| （v）Polymers | - | Copy of the confirmation notice |
| （vi）New chemical substances in low production volume | - | Confirmation notice and form 3 document |
| New chemical substances pertaining to overseas manufacturers | - | Copy of the notification and form 4 document |
NOTE: Referring to Forms 1-4 above, the official detailed requirements are as follows:
https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/chemical_management/kasinhou/todoke/import_notice_240307.pdf
When importing class II specified chemical substances for any purpose other than testing and research, the planned quantity to be imported shall be reported to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry every fiscal year, and it should be noted that a specified change procedure is required in case the imported quantity exceeds the reported planned quantity.
In addition, the amendment to Appendix 2 (Comparison between the importation products that are prohibited if Class I specified chemical substances are used and the Customs Tariff Act Appendix) shall be implemented from June 1, 2024. The main amendment includes:
1. Change the "surface treatment agent for electroplating or such preparation additives" using PFOS or its salt to "Surface treatment agent for electroplating and such preparation additives".
| Product (breakdown) | Classification of the Customs Tariff Act appendix |
| Surface treatment agents and other prepared additives for plating use | Surface treatment agents and other prepared additives for plating use among 34.02 |
2. Revision of products using "PFHxS and its isomers or its salts"
| Class I specified chemical substances | Product (breakdown) |
Classification of the Customs Tariff Act appendix | |
| PFHxS or its isomers or their salts | Water-repellent and oil-repellent textiles |
Water repellent and oil-repellent textiles among 54.07,55.12 to 55.15,56.02,56.03 | |
| Etching agents used in metal machining |
Etching agents used in metal machining among 3707.90, 3810.10 and 38.24 | ||
| Etching agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors | Etching agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors among 3707.90 and 38.24 | ||
| Surface treatment agents and other prepared additives for plating use | Surface treatment agents and other prepared additives for plating use among 34.02 | ||
| Anti-reflection agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors | Anti-reflection agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors among 32.08.to 32.09 | ||
| Resists for semiconductors | Resists for semiconductors among 3707.90 | ||
| Water repellent and oil repellent agents and fabric protection agents | Water repellent and oil repellent agents and fabric protection agents among 38.09 | ||
| Fire extinguishers, fire-extinguishing agents and fire-extinguishing foam | Fire extinguishers | 84.24 | |
| Fire-extinguishing agents and fire-extinguishing foam | 3813.00 | ||
| Water-repellent and oil-repellent clothes |
Water repellent and oil repellent clothes among 62.01 to 62.06, 62.10 and 62.11 | ||
| Water-repellent and oil-repellent floor coverings |
Water-repellent and oil-repellent floor coverings among 57.01 to 57.05 | ||
