Japan Calls for Examination and Regulation of Manufacturing of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

On February 1, 2024, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), and the Ministry of the Environment in Japan proposed designating perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its related substances as Class 1 Specified Chemical Substances under the Act on the Examination of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Manufacturing. This categorization restricts their production, importation, and use. The judgment followed the inclusion of PFOA and similar compounds in Annex A (Elimination) of the Stockholm Convention, which aims to address persistent organic pollutants due to their persistence, bioaccumulative nature, toxicity, and long-distance movement. Specific steps include forbidding the production and import of PFOA isomers and salts, limiting their usage to recognized necessary applications, and developing relevant technical standards.