Japan adds 50 chemicals to carcinogenic list effective from 1 April 2027

On 6 June 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) published a list of 50 carcinogenic chemicals on the ASEAN-Japan Chemical Safety Database portal. The update was also released on the country’s National Institute of Technology and Evaluation - Chemical Risk Information Platform (NITE-CHRIP) portal.  

Background 

In Japan, carcinogenic substances are subject to strict obligations under the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA), which requires records to be kept for up to 30-years. 

Previous update in December 2022 

Earlier, in December 2022, the MHLW classified 200 chemicals as carcinogenic and started enforcement in a phased manner starting from April 2023. More details can be found here.  

Obligations for Stakeholders 

From 1 April 2027, the following will be mandatory for stakeholders: 

• Mandatory GHS-compliant labelling and provision of Safety Data Sheets (SDS). 

• Risk assessment before use, implementation of exposure control measures, and health monitoring for workers.  

• Employers must conduct regular medical examinations, particularly for substances classified as Group 1 or 2A carcinogens, maintain detailed exposure and health records, and notify authorities when required.  

• Additional regulations, such as the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL) and PRTR Law, also apply to environmental reporting and emissions control.