JP Chemical Substance Control Promotion Act — Expiry of the Transition Period for SDS and Labels Under Revised JIS Z 7253
ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE
Fully applicable from May 25, 2025 (end of the transition grace period)
Overview
Under three laws, the Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof (Chemical Substance Control Promotion Act), the Industrial Safety and Health Act, and the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act, businesses are required to communicate the hazard information of chemical substances through safety data sheets (SDS) and product labels. The transitional measures for fully migrating to the Japanese Industrial Standard JIS Z 7253:2019 (aligned with GHS Revision 6) end on May 24, 2025. After the transition period ends, SDS and labels based on the previous JIS standard (such as JIS Z 7253:2012) may no longer be used, requiring every company across the supply chain that manufactures, sells, or distributes products containing covered chemical substances within Japan to update their labeling and information provision to meet the latest JIS requirements.
Enforcement Timeline
May 25, 2019: The latest standards, JIS Z 7253:2019 and JIS Z 7252:2019, are established and announced, beginning a three-year transition period (later extended).
April 1, 2022: Amendments to related laws, including the Chemical Substance Control Promotion Act and the Industrial Safety and Health Act, begin a phased review and expansion of the designated substances subject to the Cabinet Order.
May 24, 2025: The transition grace period for providing SDS and label information based on the previous JIS standard (JIS Z 7253:2012) expires, with full compliance mandatory from May 25, 2025.
Business Impact
This affects not only chemical and chemical product manufacturers in Japan but also every manufacturing and export business that uses or processes these chemicals as raw materials to supply parts or products. Businesses that fail to reissue their SDS in line with the latest JIS Z 7253:2019 and to replace or reprint the hazard warning labels affixed to product containers and packaging by the grace period deadline risk being found in violation of their obligation to provide information to downstream businesses. Because many major manufacturers also require compliance with the latest GHS information as a condition of green procurement, delays in responding can directly result in shipment holds or exclusion from the supply chain.