JAPAN
MSDS
Japanese MSDS system was started with “Notices of MSDS” and “JCIA (Japan Chemical Industry Association) Guideline for the preparation of MSDS.” One notice was published by the former Ministry of Labour in 1992. The other notice was jointly published by the former Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and the former Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1993. In 2000 and 2001, MSDS obligation was enforced by three laws (Industrial Safety and Health Law (ISHL), Poisonous and Deleterious Substance Control Law (PDSCL) and PRTR law). JCIA revised the MSDS Guideline in order to align with the changes made in the laws. This section describes topics under the three laws.
1) PRTR Law
Regardless of the size of business entity, supplier of products containing chemical substances designated under the law must provide MSDS to their customer. Products containing Class I and II Designated Chemical Substances >1% or a Specified Class I Designated Chemical Substances >0.1% are subject to this requirement. Content percent must be indicated to two significant figures (e.g. 37%, 1.6%).
This law was amended in 2008 and the amended article for MSDS was enforced in Oct. 2009. 127 chemical substances were added to the scope of MSDS obligation. In addition, medical industry was newly designated as target industry for PRTR requirement.
2) ISHL
This law requires MSDS only for industrial products. ISHL has already finished the introduction of GHS; MSDS that is prepared under the JISZ7250 (JIS: Japanese Industrial Standard) can satisfy both ISHL and GHS requirements. Content of subject chemical substance may be disclosed with a range 10%. The grace period for GHS MSDS format will expire at the end of 2010 under ISHL.
3) PDSCL
This law requires MSDS for products that contain a Specified Poisonous Substance, Poisonous Substance or Deleterious Substance. Concentration cut-offs are prescribed for each designated substance. Exact content percent must be provided
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