According to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), as relayed by the Jiangsu technical trade measures platform, METI issued a notice on October 2, 2026 revising import customs clearance procedures for chemical substances under the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture (CSCL). The revised notice applies from November 22, 2026, alongside the cabinet order amending the CSCL Enforcement Order; the current June 2, 2026 notice is repealed on November 21.
The cabinet order adds three groups to the Class I Specified Chemical Substances list: long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs, C9-C21), their salts and related substances that can transform into them; the pesticide chlorpyrifos; and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs — linear, C14-C17, chlorine content of 45% or more by weight). Certain products using these substances are designated as prohibited imports, meaning affected cargo cannot enter Japan from November 22.
Three procedural points matter for clearance. First, importing a Class I Specified Chemical Substance requires a license from the METI minister under Article 22 of the CSCL. Second, the import declaration or invoice must state the official category reference number published in the official gazette — a substance without that number is treated as a new chemical substance even if it carries a CAS number, and prior review is required before import. Third, on impurities: impurities at or below 1% by weight are generally exempt from prior procedures, but Class I substances are not permitted even as impurities below 1%, and intentionally added substances never count as impurities regardless of concentration.
Product categories likely to be affected include water- and oil-repellent treated textiles and paper (LC-PFCA related), plasticizers and flame retardants in cables, rubber and plastics (MCCPs), and agrochemical products (chlorpyrifos). Before November 22, exporters to Japan should confirm product composition with suppliers and obtain declarations or composition sheets showing the absence of these substances. Any mismatch between declarations and actual cargo risks extended inspection or import refusal.
We provide one-stop ocean/air freight from across China to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and other major Japanese ports, including Japan import customs clearance. For chemical or processed goods, use the buttons below for rate calculation, shipment tracking or online consultation — or click sales@ruixincargo.com to send your cargo details; we will help verify composition and regulatory applicability. All rates quoted are reference rates.