Japan Bans Import of Products Containing Methoxychlor, UV-328, and Dechlorane Plus

On February 6, 2025, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced a revision to the import procedures under the Chemical Substances Control Law, aimed at strengthening the management of specific hazardous chemicals.

Revisions:

• Methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus, and UV-328 were designated as Class I Specified Chemical Substances, effective from February 18, 2025.
• Additionally, the Ministry updated Annex 2, listing products containing these specified chemicals, which will be prohibited from import starting June 18, 2025.

According to Article 7 of the Enforcement Regulations, importers must verify that the products listed do not contain Class I Specified Chemical Substances before importing them. Products that fail to comply with this regulation will not be allowed to enter the Japanese market. This new regulation could impact Chinese companies exporting chemical products to Japan. Once Methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus, and UV-328 are designated as Class I Specified Chemical Substances, authorization is required before production or importation. Unauthorized products cannot enter the Japanese market. Moreover, the ban on various products containing Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 further restricts the opportunities for Chinese companies in the Japanese market.

The METI stated that it would continue to monitor market conditions and adjust regulations as necessary. Furthermore, the previous notifications will expire on February 17, 2025, to ensure all stakeholders can make timely adjustments to meet the new requirements.

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CIRS operates a fully-owned subsidiary in Japan. By leveraging the expertise of CIRS Japan and the international team, CIRS can provide enterprise various Japanese chemical services, including but not limited to:

• Existing substance search in Japan; and

• New substance registration under CSCL and ISHL.

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Further Information

METI