On December 4, 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Japan published the draft revision to customs clearance procedures for chemicals under the Act on the Regulation of Manufacture and Evaluation of Chemical Substances. The draft Amendment intends to be effective on June 1, 2024.
In the case of importing existing chemical substances, publicly notified chemical substances, monitoring chemical substances, or priority assessment chemical substances.
- In the case of importing existing chemical substances in the List of Existing Chemical Substances:
Reference number of substances by category shall be entered in the declaration of the import or the invoice. - In the case of publicly notified chemical substances monitoring chemical substances, and priority assessment chemical substances: Reference number by category shall be entered in the declaration of the import or the invoice.
In the case of importing Class I Specified Chemical Substances:
- For any purpose other than testing and research purposes: The permission of the METI shall be obtained and the original of the written permission shall be submitted at the time of the import declaration.
- For testing and research purpose: It shall be confirmed that the substances are appropriate for testing and research purposes by the METI and the original confirmation shall be presented at the time of the import declaration.
In the case of importing Class II Specified Chemical Substances:
- The NUMBER of substances shall be entered in the declaration of the import or the invoice.
- The planned quantity of import should be notified to the Minister of the METI if Class II Specified Chemical Substances for any purpose other than testing and research purposes.
In the case of importing New Chemical Substances:
Full attention shall be paid that necessary information shall be notified to the Minister of METI to be examined or confirmed in advance.
- New Chemical Substances: A copy of the notification shall be submitted at the time of import declaration. However, submission is not required after the names of new chemicals has been announced publicly.
- For testing and research purpose: Relevant documents shall be submitted at the time of the import declaration.
- Intermediates, new chemical with low volume: A copy of the confirmation note shall be submitted at the time of the import declaration.
- Confirmed new chemical substances: A copy of the confirmation note of the polymer compounds shall be submitted at the time of the import declaration.
The Amendment aims to regulate the import procedures of chemicals and further safeguard the safety of the public and the environment.
