NPE to be designated as Class II Specified Chemical Substance in Japan

On 14 February 2023, Japan’s Ministry of Environment (MOE) announced its plan of drawing up proposals to designate poly(oxyethylene) nonylphenyl ether (NPE) as class II specified chemical substance.

Class II specified chemicals are those that have been discovered (or are soon anticipated to be discovered) in significant amounts in the environment and are believed to represent a risk of long-term harm to persons and/or the ecosystem. Currently, there are 23 substances in this class, including trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, and triphenyltin N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamate. Class II specified substances are regulated under Japan’s Chemical Substances Control Law and require mandatory reporting of present and anticipated production quantities.

In Japan, NPE is widely used as:

• wetting agent, emulsifier, and dispersant in textile processing.
• detergents, dishwashing liquids, and floor cleaners in household and industrial cleaning products.
• defoaming agent in the production of paper and pulp.
• emulsifier and wetting agent in the production of pesticides and herbicides.
• emulsifier and surfactant in cosmetic products such as shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, etc.

By the end of 2023, the MOE plans to inform the WTO and launch a public consultation on the recommendations.