[Updated] Japan Proposes to Add Additional Existing Substances into the FCM Positive List

On June 24, 2022, MHLW announced that by June 17, 2022, a total of 43 nominated substances had been recorded in the existing substance list (except those during the confirmation period). The application period is until July 15, 2022. Stakeholders still have time to submit comments on substances they expect to be added into the positive list. 

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On April 26, 2022, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan announced to start the nomination for existing substances in the FCM Positive List again. The application can be submitted before July 16, 2022. MHLW  emphasized that this would be the last opportunity to submit a request for an existing substance to be included in the FCM Positive List. 

Existing substances to be submitted must satisfy the following conditions:

1. The substance is used in food apparatus, containers, or packaging;

2. The substance is a target substance of the positive list (synthetic resin);

3. The substance was sold, manufactured for sale, imported, or used for business in Japan prior to June 1, 2020;

As revealed by internal information, the nominated existing substances will be announced in 2023 or 2024, after which there will be a period of public consultation. ChemLinked will keep close an eye on this topic.