On 1 November 2023, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) issued a directive requiring companies to submit detailed information on two priority assessment chemicals (PACs) under the country's Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL).

The substances in question, sodium alkenesulfonate and sodium hydroxyalkanesulfonate, have been listed as PACs, indicating their potential risks to the environment or human health. Companies are now required to submit comprehensive data with their annual reports for the financial year 2024. The information required includes:

Name and Contact Details of Notifier: Companies must provide their name and contact details as the notifier of the substances in question.

Name and CAS Number of the Substance: The specific identification of the substances with their Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) numbers is crucial for accurate reporting.

Chemical Structure, Composition, and Weight Percentage: Detailed information about the chemical structure, composition, and weight percentage of the substances is required for a thorough assessment.

Volume: Companies are required to disclose the volume of the substances being manufactured or imported, especially if the volume exceeds one tonne per year.

Uses: METI is requesting information on the intended uses of sodium alkenesulfonate and sodium hydroxyalkanesulfonate, as understanding the potential exposure scenarios is essential for risk evaluation.

Priority assessment chemicals are subject to increased scrutiny due to their potential adverse effects. The National Institute of Technology and Evaluation’s (NITE) Chemical Risk Information Platform shows that there are currently 218 substances listed under the PAC category.

Companies engaging in the manufacture or import of these substances in quantities exceeding one tonne per year are required to submit their annual reports, ensuring compliance with METI regulations and contributing to the overall safety and accountability in the handling of chemicals.

On 27 October 2023, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) issued a proposal to classify poly(oxyethylene) nonylphenyl ether (NPE) as a Class II specified chemical substance according to its Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL). The proposal mandates that manufacturers and importers to label their packaging with environmental protection guidelines and to submit reports detailing both expected and actual annual quantities.

Class II specified chemicals are chemicals that have been detected (or are expected to be detected) in significant amounts in the environment and are believed to represent a risk of long-term adverse effects to humans and/or the ecosystem. Currently, there are 23 substances in this class, including trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, and triphenyltin N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamate.

In Japan, NPE is widely used as:

• Wetting, emulsifying, and dispersing agent in textile processing.
• Detergents, dishwashing liquids, and floor cleaners in household and industrial cleaning products.
• Defoaming agent in paper and pulp production.
• Emulsifier and wetting agent in the production of pesticides and herbicides.
• Emulsifier and surfactants in cosmetic products such as shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, etc.

The consultation on the draft will end on 26 November 2023.