JP — Designation of PFHxS as a Class I Specified Chemical Substance under the CSCL
ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE
Import ban on designated products effective June 1, 2024
Overview
Following a decision under the Stockholm Convention (POPs Convention), Japan amended the Enforcement Order of the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL) to designate PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonic acid) and its salts as Class I Specified Chemical Substances. As a result, manufacturing and import of PFHxS are now prohibited in principle, and imports of designated products containing PFHxS — including fire extinguishers, water/oil-repellent-treated textiles, and anti-reflective coatings for semiconductor manufacturing (10 product categories) — are uniformly banned. Japanese manufacturers must strictly trace PFHxS content across their supply chains and complete substitution measures.
Enforcement Timeline
December 1, 2023 — Cabinet decision on the amendment to the CSCL Enforcement Order. February 1, 2024 — Amended order takes effect; manufacturing and import of PFHxS and its salts prohibited in principle (subject to permit). June 1, 2024 — Import ban takes effect for designated products (10 categories) containing PFHxS. December 1, 2024 — Compliance with technical standards and labeling requirements for handling becomes mandatory.
Business Impact
* **製品回収およびサプライチェーン途絶リスク**：はっ水剤、防汚剤、消火剤、半導体製造用レジスト、電子部品の各種コーティング剤等にPFHxSが意図的・非意図的に含まれていないか、chemSHERPA等を通じた精密な含有調査が不可欠です。違反があった場合、化審法に基づく回収・是正命令や、企業名の公表などの制裁リスクを伴います。
* **代替物質への移行コスト**：フッ素フリーの代替技術や、環境負荷の低い短鎖フッ素系・炭化水素系・シリコーン系への切り替え、それに伴う製品性能の再検証が必要となり、開発期間の確保と追加評価コストが発生します。