Japan issued the schedule for submitting manufacturing and import notifications for low-volume new chemical substances for fiscal year 2026.

This revision adjusts the handling regulations for Class I Specified Chemical Substances present as impurities, based on evaluations under the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL) and discussions from councils concerning the future direction of chemical substance measures, including considerations for a Circular Economy response considering the entire lifecycle.

October 3, 2025, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Ministry of the Environment jointly announced a public consultation on draft control measures under the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL) for chlorpyrifos, medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and their salts, and long-chain PFCA-related substances. The public can submit feedback via the e-Gov portal by November 2, 2025, using the official form.

On August 20, 2025, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) jointly released a draft amendment to the Enforcement Regulations of the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL) based on the CSCL.

Japan published the FY2024 GHS Recommended Classification List on the NITE website.

Japan’s current GHS regulations are the 'Chemical Classification' (JIS Z7252: 2019) and the 'Hazard Communication of Chemicals—Labels and Safety Data Sheets' (JIS Z7253: 2019), which are based on the United Nations UN GHS Revision 6. These regulations are expected to be revised in 2025.

Japan announced adjustments to the Priority Assessment Chemical Substances List and the requirements for reporting production quantities.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) officially published 2023 fiscal year data on domestic production and import volumes of General Chemical Substances, Priority Assessment Chemical Substances, and Monitoring Chemical Substances. The disclosure aligns with the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL) to strengthen lifecycle management of chemicals through transparent regulation and mitigate potential health and environmental risks.

On February 6, 2025, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced a revision to the import procedures under the Chemical Substances Control Law, aimed at strengthening the management of specific hazardous chemicals.

On November 11, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan jointly announced the implementation of new notification procedures for low volume and small volume new chemical substances starting in 2025.