On 10 Jul 2024, the Ministries of Japan has published Cabinet Order no. 244 of 2024 to expand the restriction on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts to PFOA, its isomer or their salts and PFOA-related compounds under the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of their Manufacturer etc.
The Cabinet Order No. 244 contains several important provisions.
1. Designated the following substances as Class 1 Specified Chemical Substances:
- Perfluoro alkanoic acid (limited to those with a branched structure and eight carbon atoms) (PFOA isomers) or their salts.
- PFOA-related substances (perfluorooctyl iodide (PFOI), 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH), and substances that degrade to PFOA specified by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Ministry of the Environment.)
2. Expanded the restriction for “PFOA or its salts” to “PFOA, its isomers, or their salts” under the Entry 34.
3. Added a new restriction on PFOA-related substances with certaintransition period for certain products in Entry 35.
4. Updated the Entry number for PFHxS to Entry 36.
The following designated products containing substances designated as Class 1 are prohibited from import:
| Entry | Substances | Products | Effective Date |
| 34 | PFOA, its isomers, or their salts | 1. Water resistant and oil resistant paper 2. Water repellent and oil repellent textiles 3. Cleaning agent 4. Anti-reflection agents used in the manufacturer of semiconductors 5. Paints and varnish 6. Water and oil repellent agent 7. Adhesives and sealing fillers 8. Fire extinguisher, fire-extinguishing agent, and fire-extinguishing foam 9. Toner for printer 10. Water resistant and oil resistant clothes 11. Water repellent and oil repellent floor covering 12. Floor waxes 13. Photographic paper | For PFOA or their salts: Effected in 2021 For PFOA isomers: 10 Sep 2024 |
| 35 | PFOA-related substances | 1. Water repellent and oil repellent textiles 2. Antifoaming agents 3. Water-repellent, oil-repellent, and antifouling agents and fiber protecting agents 4. Optical fibers or coating agents applied to optical fiber 5. Fire extinguisher, fire-extinguishing agent, and fire-extinguishing foam 6. Water resistant and oil resistant clothes 7. Water repellent and oil repellent floor covering 8. Floor waxes | 10 Jan 2025 |
Source: https://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2024/0705_002.html
