Japan: New obligations regarding the SDS document

 

Japan has changed the requirements regarding the provision of Safety Data Sheets.

The changes are described in the document Enhancement of delivering SDS accompanied with amendment of the Industrial Safety and Health Act.

A SDS is a document that describes the danger or harmfulness of chemical substances and that is required to be delivered by those who transfer or provide chemical substance that could put an employee in danger or cause impairments of employee’s health (hereinafter referred to as “transferors/providers”) pursuant to paragraph (1) of Article 57-2 of the Industrial Safety and Health Act.

Now, the Industrial Safety and Health Act will be amended to:

1. Establish a new punitive clause for the notification of hazard statements by delivering SDS, etc., which is currently obliged on transferors and providers.
2. Oblige a business operator to notify changes in the notification in ①.
3. Regarding “ingredients” stipulated in item (ii) of paragraph (1) of Article 57-2 of the Industrial Safety and Health Act, if the ingredients of a chemical substance are confidential business information, notification using an alternative name, etc., in which part of the ingredient name is omitted or replaced, will be possible only when the chemical substances have relatively low toxicity. In addition, obligations to record and preserve information on the ingredients of such substance subject to notice and the notified alternative names, etc., and other information, to provide information on ingredients to doctors upon request, and to report upon request from labour standards inspection agencies shall be placed on those who set alternative names, etc.

The proposed date of adoption is to be determined.

To find out more about chemical compliance in Japan and on other markets, please do not hesitate to contact the Product Compliance Institute.