,On 12 December 2025, Japans Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of the Environment jointly announced the approval of a cabinet order amending the Enforcement Order of the Chemical Substances Control Law, to be officially issued on 17 December 2025. The amendment designates PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonic acid) and related substances as Class I Specified Chemical Substances and introduces corresponding control measures. The decision aligns with Japans obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, following PFHxSs inclusion as a newly listed POP. As Class I Specified Chemical Substances, PFHxS and related substances, defined as compounds capable of degrading into PFHxS, will be subject to strict controls, including a general prohibition on production and import, use restrictions, and bans on the import of specified products. The cabinet order adds ten categories of PFHxS-related products, such as treated fabrics, semiconductor manufacturing agents, electroplating additives, fire-fighting agents, and treated clothing and floor coverings, to the import ban list. It also removes the exempted use of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol, temporarily applies national handling standards to PFHxS-containing fire extinguishing products, and sets out transitional measures for implementation. The removal of the exempted use takes effect on 17 December 2025, while the main designation, product import bans, and handling requirements will apply from 17 June 2026, with transitional provisions implemented from promulgation or six months thereafter, as applicable.
Consumer News Region