Japan Announces Process for Adding “Existing Substances” to PL

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has published a request for nominations for “existing substances” be included on the Positive List (PL) of “synthetic resins” for food-contact materials (FCMs) with corresponding submission forms. “Existing substances” include those marketed or used for food-contact utensils, containers and packages (UCP) in Japan prior to the effective date for the PL (i.e., June 1, 2020).  The deadline for filing such nominations is October 30, 2020.

For additional information on the PL system for “synthetic resins” that was MHLW published on April 28, 2020, see the PackagingLaw.com article, A Move to Mandatory: Japan Finalizes its Positive List for “Synthetic Resins”.)

As a component of MHLW’s process for nominating “existing substances,” the Ministry requires that companies include an attestation that such substances were marketed or used in food-contact UCP prior to June 1, 2020.  Submission forms are provided for each of the following materials:

1. Base polymers (Plastics and Coatings);
2. Minor monomers polymerized with base polymers; and
3. Additives (including coating agents).

Additional information, including links to application form and submission instructions, is available here.

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