Note to Companies Exporting to Japan: The Latest Import Clearance Procedures for Chemical Substances under the Japanese CSCL

Since 1 February 2024, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) has implemented the latest import clearance procedures for chemical substances under the CSCL. The following contents are listed for companies exporting to Japan.

For the clearance of different categories of chemical substances, documents should be submitted as shown in the table below:

Classification of Chemical Substances	Official Gazette Serial Number, etc. (Import Declaration/Invoice)	Required Documents
Existing chemical substances	Notification Category Number	-
Publicly notified chemical substances	Serial number, Notification Category Number	-
Monitoring chemical substances	Serial number, Notification Category Number	-
Priority assessment of chemical substances	Serial number, Notification Category Number	-
Class I specified chemical substances for specific purposes	-	Copy of the permit
Class I specified chemical substances for tests and research purposes	-	Form 1 document
Class II specified chemical substances	Number of Article 2 of the CSCL	-
New chemical substances（i）After receiving the determination notice	-	Copy of the determination notice
（ii）Test and research/reagent purposes	-	Form 2 document
（iii）Intermediate	-	Copy of the confirmation notice
（iv）New chemical substances in small volume	-	Confirmation notice and form 3 document
（v）Polymers	-	Copy of the confirmation notice
（vi）New chemical substances in low-production volume	-	Confirmation notice and form 3 document
New chemical substances pertaining to overseas manufacturers	-	Copy of the notification and  form 4 document

NOTE: Referring to Forms 1-4 above, the detailed requirements are as follows:

https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/chemical_management/kasinhou/todoke/import_notice_240307.pdf

When importing class II specified chemical substances for any purpose other than testing and research, the planned quantity to be imported shall be reported to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry every fiscal year, and it should be noted that a specified change procedure is required in case the imported quantity exceeds the reported planned quantity.

In addition, the amendment to Appendix 2 (Comparison between the importation products that are prohibited if Class I specified chemical substances are used and the Customs Tariff Act Appendix) shall be implemented from June 1, 2024. The main amendment includes:

1. Change the "surface treatment agent for electroplating or such preparation additives" using PFOS or its salt to "Surface treatment agent for electroplating and such preparation additives".

Product (breakdown)	Classification of the Customs Tariff Act appendix
Surface treatment agents and other prepared additives for plating use	Surface treatment agents and other prepared additives for plating use among 34.02

2. Revision of products using "PFHxS and its isomers or its salts"

Class I specified chemical substances	Product (breakdown)		Classification of the Customs Tariff Act appendix
PFHxS or its isomers or their salts	Water-repellent and oil-repellent textiles		Water repellent and oil-repellent textiles among 54.07,55.12 to 55.15,56.02,56.03
	Etching agents used in metal machining		Etching agents used in metal machining among 3707.90, 3810.10 and 38.24
	Etching agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors		Etching agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors among 3707.90 and 38.24
	Surface treatment agents and other prepared additives for plating use		Surface treatment agents and other prepared additives for plating use among 34.02
	Anti-reflection agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors		Anti-reflection agents used in the manufacture of semiconductors among 32.08.to 32.09
	Resists for semiconductors		Resists for semiconductors among 3707.90
	Water repellent and oil repellent agents and fabric protection agents		Water repellent and oil repellent agents and fabric protection agents among 38.09
	Fire extinguishers, fire-extinguishing agents and fire-extinguishing foam	Fire extinguishers	84.24
		Fire-extinguishing agents and fire-extinguishing foam	3813.00
	Water-repellent and oil-repellent clothes		Water repellent and oil repellent clothes among 62.01 to 62.06, 62.10 and 62.11
	Water-repellent and oil-repellent floor coverings		Water-repellent and oil-repellent floor coverings among 57.01 to 57.05

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