Japan Mandates PFHxS Checks and New Handling Rules for Fire Extinguishers and Agents

Recently, Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) issued a notification: as PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)-related substances have been designated as Class I Specified Chemical Substances under the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL), concerned parties should check whether the fire extinguishers and extinguishing agents they hold contain such substances, and handle them properly in accordance with the newly revised technical standards.

Earlier, Japan designated PFHxS-related substances as Class I Specified Chemical Substances under the CSCL, prohibiting their manufacture, import, and use in principle from June 2026. Accordingly, the relevant Ministerial Ordinance governing the technical standards for fire extinguishers and extinguishing agents was revised on June 12 and took effect on June 17, updating the technical requirements for products containing PFHxS. Regarding the actual presence of PFHxS in foam extinguishing agents in Japan, the notification suggests referring to the current survey results of the Japan Fire Fighting Equipment Association and the Japan Fire Extinguisher Manufacturers' Association (JFEMA) for confirmation.

Enterprises holding relevant fire extinguishers and extinguishing agents should confirm whether their products contain PFHxS-related substances; if so, they should handle them properly in accordance with the revised technical standards and the FDMA notification. Where pollutants are generated during disposal, replacement, leakage, training, or inspection, the requirements of waste disposal and related environmental laws and regulations must also be observed. Enterprises that manufacture, deal in, or export PFAS-type fire extinguishing agent products to Japan should pay particular attention.

About CIRS

Established in 2007, the CIRS Group is a leading product safety and regulatory consulting firm. CIRS has branch offices in the Republic of Ireland, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China. CIRS Group utilizes its technical expertise, various resources, and international network to provide one-stop compliance services from regulatory compliance, laboratory testing, R&D to data services across multiple industries. This includes chemicals, cosmetics, food and food beverages, medical devices, agrochemical products, disinfectants, and consumer goods. It helps clients gain a competitive advantage by reducing business risks associated with regulatory affairs.

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.

Further information

Gov.