SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is advising stakeholders that Japan is proposing to regulate perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds under the ‘Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture Etc.’ (also known as the Chemical Substances control Law (CSCL)).
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (WHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of the Environment held a one-month consultation on the proposal that ended on March 19, 2023.
If accepted, provisions in the draft measure include:
- Manufacture and import of PFHxS and its salts prohibited from spring of 2024 by designation as Class 1 Specified Chemical Substances
- 10 specified products that use PFHxS, its salts or PFHxS-related compounds prohibited from import:
- Fire extinguishers, fire extinguishing agents for fire extinguishers and foams
- Etching agents used in metal processing
- Surface treatment agents for plating or their mixture additives
- Treated fabrics with water or oil repellent properties
- Treated clothing with water or oil repellent properties
- Treated floor coverings with water or oil repellent properties
- Water and oil repellents and fiber protection agents
- Anti-reflective agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors
- Etching agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors
- Resists for semiconductors
- Technical standards for handling firefighting foams established
- Use of PFHxS, its salts or PFHxS-related compounds without establishing essential use prohibited
Japan is one of many jurisdictions currently considering banning PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds following the decision to add them to Stockholm Convention Annex A (elimination) without exemptions in June 2022.
SGS Chemical Testing
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For further information contact:
Dr. HingWo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
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Website: www.sgs.com/cp
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