JP Industrial Safety and Health Act — Concentration Standard Values for Autonomous Chemical Management (2025–2026 Expansion)
ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE
Second phase effective April 1, 2025, with a third phase planned for April 2026
Overview
Following amendments to the Order for Enforcement of the Industrial Safety and Health Act and related ministerial ordinances, Japan continues to transition toward an autonomous chemical substance management system. At business sites handling substances subject to risk assessment for which the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare has established a concentration standard value by public notice, keeping worker exposure levels below that value is a statutory obligation. Following the first phase covering 225 substances that took effect in April 2024, the scope of covered substances is being substantially expanded in stages in April 2025 and April 2026.
Enforcement Timeline
April 2024: Autonomous chemical management takes full effect, with the first-phase concentration standard values covering 225 substances taking effect.
April 2025: The second phase of substances with concentration standard values takes effect, requiring exposure measurement and countermeasures for the additional substances.
April 2026: The third phase takes effect, expanding the cumulative scope to several hundred substances.
Business Impact
Factories and business sites in Japan that manufacture, use, or handle the covered chemical substances are required to conduct workplace and personal exposure measurements and to confirm and record that worker exposure levels remain below the standard value. If the standard is exceeded, businesses are legally required to implement exposure-reduction measures such as installing local exhaust ventilation, improving work methods, enclosing processes, and ensuring the use of protective equipment. Violations carry the risk of corrective recommendations and penalties under the Industrial Safety and Health Act.