NATIONAL PROFILE
on Chemicals Management
JAPAN
Inter-Ministerial Meeting on IFCS
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Ministry of the Environment
October 2003
National Profile on Chemicals Management
JAPAN
October 2003
Inter-Ministerial Meeting on IFCS
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
Authentic language for this document is Japanese.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viii
SUMMARY..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . ix
CHAPTER 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1. Population and other statistics, etc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1.1. Geography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1.2. Official language and education system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.1.3. Population. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.1.4. Average life expectancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.1.5. Working population and rate of unemployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2. Political structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.2.1. Form of government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.2.2. The number of local public authorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.2.3. The state of local public authorities and decentralisation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.3. The manufacturing and agricultural sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.4. Employment in the major economic sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
CHAPTER 2
PRODUCTION, IMPORT, EXPORT AND DISPOSAL OF CHEMICALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.1. Production, import and export of chemicals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2. Waste ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 16
CHAPTER 3
ISSUES REGARDING THE PRODUCTION, IMPORT, EXPORT AND
USE OF CHEMICALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
CHAPTER 4
LAWS/REGULATIONS AND OTHER LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE
MANAGEMENT OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.1. Overview of laws for the management of chemical substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.2. Laws on the control of substances beginning with their import, production to disposal. . . 26
4.3. Overview of the main measures and procedures for chemical management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4.3.1. Notification, etc. Under the Law Concerning the Evaluation of Chemical
Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4.3.2. Notification, etc. Under the Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Releases to the
Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in
Their Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.3.3. Response to the PIC Convention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 31
4.3.4. Response to the POPs Convention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.3.5. Response to the AFS Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 31
4.4. Examples of voluntary activities for management of chemical substances other than
laws and regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 32
CHAPTER 5
MINISTRIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS
RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 35
CHAPTER 6
ACTIVITIES BY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS, PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS
AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6.1. Related organisations and their activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 39
6.1.1. Chemical industry associations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6.1.1.1. Vinyl Environmental Council (VEC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6.1.1.2. Kaseihin Kogyo Kyokai (Japan Dyestuff & Chemical Industry Association) . . . . . . 39
6.1.1.3. Japan Plasticizer Industry Association (JPIA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
6.1.1.4. Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPCA). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
6.1.1.5. Japan Surfactant Industry Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
6.1.1.6. Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
6.1.1.7. Japan Chemical Exporters’ Association (JCEA) and the Japan Chemical
Importers’ Association (JCIA). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
6.1.1.8. Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association of Japan
(FPMAJ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
6.1.1.9. Japan Soap and Detergent Association (JSDA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
6.1.1.10. Japan Soda Industry Association (JSIA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
6.1.1.11. Japan Paint Manufacturers Association (JPMA). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 43
6.1.1.12. Japan Plastics Industry Federation (JPIF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
6.1.1.13 Japan Aromatic Industry Association (JAIA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
6.1.1.14. Japan Inorganic Chemical Industry Association (JICIA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
6.1.1.15. Japan Crop Protection Association (JCPA). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 44
6.1.2. Public organisations and research institutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
6.1.2.1. Japan Chemical Industry Ecology-Toxicology and Information Center
(JETOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 44
6.1.2.2. Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
6.1.2.3. Japan Bioassay Research Center (JBRC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
6.1.2.4. Hatano Research Institute, Food and Drug Safety Center (FDSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
6.1.2.5. Food, Agricultural Chemicals and Drug Safety Evaluation Centre
(An-Pyo Centre) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
6.1.2.6. Institute of Environmental Toxicology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 45
6.1.2.7. Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute, Japan (CERI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 46
6.1.2.8. Japan Chemical Innovation Institute (JCII) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
6.1.2.9. Center for Environmental Information Science (CEIS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 46
6.2. Overview of available specialised knowledge other than governments. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 46
CHAPTER 7
COORDINATION AND COOPERATION STRUCTURE AMONG
GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND AGENCIES, ETC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
7.1. Coordination and cooperation structure among government ministries and
agencies, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 47
7.2. Details on the coordination and cooperation structure among ministries and
agencies, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 49
7.2.1. Inter-Ministerial Directors’ Committee for Cooperation on Endocrine
Disrupting Chemicals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.2.2. Inter-Ministerial Meeting on Indoor Air Pollutants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
7.2.3. Council of Ministries and Agencies on Dioxin policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
7.2.4. Inter-Ministerial Meeting on High Production Volume (HPV) Chemicals . .. . . . . . . . . 51
7.2.5 Inter-Ministerial Meeting on Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
7.2.6. Inter-Ministerial Meeting on GHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
7.2.7. Inter-Ministerial Meeting on Intergovernmental Forum for Chemical Safety
(IFCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
7.2.8. Inter-Ministerial General Directors’ Meeting on the Stockholm Convention
on Persistent Organic Pollutants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
7.2.9. Inter-Ministerial Conference on the Prevention of Illegal Traffic of Wastes .. . . . . . . . . 52
7.3. System to obtain opinions and information experts, private organisations, etc. .. . . . . . . . . 53
CHAPTER 8
ACCESS TO DATA AND THEIR UTILISATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 54
8.1. Sources of data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
8.2. Procedures for the collection and dissemination of data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 57
8.3. Chances to use international documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
8.4. Possibilities to use international databases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
8.5. Information exchange systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
CHAPTER 9
TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
9.1. Overview of the research infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
9.2. Overview of the future prospects of the electronic information system in government
agencies....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
9.3. Overview of technical training and education programmes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
CHAPTER 10
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
10.1. Cooperation and involvement with international organisations, groups
and agreements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 62
10.2. Participation in appropriate technological assistance projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
CHAPTER 11
RAISING AWARENESS AND PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF MANAGEMENT OF
CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES AMONG WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 65
11.1. Workers ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 65
11.1.1. Responsibilities of employers regarding education, etc. of workers . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 65
11.1.1.1. Appointment of operations chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
11.1.1.2. Implementation of safety and health education, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 65
11.1.1.3. Implementation of education at work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
11.1.1.4. Labelling and notification of chemical substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
11.1.1.5. Dissemination of the content of MSDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
11.1.1.6. Measures based on the guideline for chemical substances management . . . . . . 66
11.1.2. Projects for raising awareness of chemical substances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
11.1.2.1. Japan Advanced Information Centre of Safety and Health (JAISH) . . . . . . . . . . . 66
11.1.2.2. National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
11.1.2.3. Japan Small and Medium Enterprise Corporation (JASMEC) . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 67
11.1.2.4. Center for Environmental Information Science (CEIS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
11.2. The public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
CHAPTER 12
AVAILABLE AND NECESSARY RESOURCES FOR CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT . . . . . . . . 68
12.1. Available and necessary resources at government organisations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
12.2. Indispensable resources at government organisations to assume responsibility of
the chemical substance management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
ANNEX 1
GLOSSARY ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 71
ANNEX 2
REPORTS AND ARTICLES SERVING AS USEFUL REFERENCE FOR
CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES MANAGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 72
ANNEX 3
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF IMPORTANT ORGANISATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
ANNEX 4
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TEXT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 79
Introduction
The United Nations Conference on Environment and
the Forums, and hosted the Intersessional Group III in 1998
Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit,
in Yokohama. Moreover, at the Forum III, Japan was
that was held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro adopted Agenda 21,
elected for the IFCS Vice President, and thus organized the
an action plan for the 21st century. The Intergovernmental
2002 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of IFCS held at
Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) is a forum established
Tokyo in October 2002. Japan played an active role as the
with the goal of seeking cooperation among governments in
chair, and priority issues for the Region and the measures to
order to achieve the implementation of Chapter 19 of
present those issues were identified and compiled in the
Agenda 21, “Environmentally Sound Management of Toxic
Conference.
Chemicals, including Prevention of Illegal International
As for a National Profile, the Editorial Committee for
Traffic in Toxic and Dangerous Products.” Approximately
National Profile, mainly comprised of the ministries
100 countries participate in the IFCS and its objective is to
participating in the Inter-Ministerial Meeting on IFCS was
promote international chemical safety management.
established in May 2002. The Editorial Committee
The goals for action in regard to chemical management
members actively collaborated, and herewith finalised
based on Agenda 21 are largely classified in six programme
Japan’s National Profile, with reference to the guidance
areas, as follows:
document of the United Nations Institute for Training and
Research (UNITAR).
(a) Expanding and accelerating international assessment of
chemical risks;
(b) Harmonisation of classification and labelling of
chemicals;
(c) Information exchange on toxic chemicals and chemical
risks;
The scope of this Profile is describing the facts that the
ministries participating in the Inter-Ministerial Meeting on
IFCS are mainly involved.
This Profile is the first “challenge” to comprehensively
describe the chemical management system in Japan. I
sincerely hope that this Profile could be a useful reference
(d) Establishment of risk reduction programmes;
material not only for people concerned in Japan, but also for
(e) Strengthening of national capabilities and capacities for
those in foreign countries, particularly, developing
management of chemicals;
(f) Prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and
dangerous products.
The development of a National Profile on Chemicals
countries, in their efforts of chemical management.
Finally, I would highly appreciate the all who
contributed to editing this Profile.
October 2003
Management was recognised as one of the Priorities for
Action of programme area E at the Forum I held at
Stockholm, Sweden in 1994. Also the Bahia Declaration on
Chemical Safety was adopted by the IFCS at its Forum III
Sadao Nakao
Vice President (Asia and Pacific Region)
Office of Chemical Safety
held at Salvador, Brazil in 2000. In this declaration, a future
Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau
goal was included most of the countries should develop a
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
National Profile.
The Government of Japan has actively participated in
Summary
The scope of this Profile is describing the facts that the
terms of annual production amount, industrial organic
ministries participating in the Inter-Ministerial Meeting on
chemicals make up the largest share with 34.9 million tons,
IFCS are mainly involved.
followed by high compressed gases, plastic materials,
industrial inorganic chemicals and pigments, aromatic
CHAPTER 1 provides general information on Japan.
- The area of Japan is approximately 378,000
km2;
it is
situated in the sea east of the Asian continent, and has no
direct connection to other countries via land routes.
- The national language is Japanese, and the literacy rate is
hydrocarbons and coal tar (Yearbook of Chemical Industries
Statistics 2001).
- Many kinds of chemicals are also imported as well as
exported. In terms of annual import/export amount of
industrial organic chemicals make up the largest share with
almost 100%. Six years of elementary school and three
approximately 4.51 million tons of import and
years of junior high school are compulsory. The
approximately 8.71 million tons of export (Customs
advancement ratio to senior high school is more than 90%,
Statistics 2001).
and to such higher education as college approximately
50% (as of 2001).
- The total population is approximately 127 million people
(2000, Report on National Census).
- The average life expectancy is 77.6 years for men and 84.6
- Industrial waste amounts to approximately 400 million
tons a year, of which approximately 1 million tons are
Specified Hazardous Industrial Wastes (1999, Survey
conducted by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE)).
- The volume of import and export of hazardous waste
years for women (2000, Life Expectancies at Birth, Abridged
known based on the related domestic law to the Basel
Life Tables for Japan 2001).
Convention is 1,515 tons and 4,326 tons respectively
- The number of people of working age is approximately
(2001, The Implementation Status of the Law for the Control
86.2 million (2000, Report on National Census). The
of Export, Import and Others of Specified Wastes and Other
unemployment rate is 5.0% (2001, Labour Force Survey).
Wastes in 2000).
- The form of government is a parliamentary government
system.
- The number of local authorities is 47 prefectures, 675
CHAPTER 3 provides a general overview of issues regarding
damage to human health among those of production,
cities, 1,981 towns and 562 villages (as of April 2002). The
import, export and use of chemicals.
fundamental principle of local autonomy is set in the Local
- Death cases caused by chemical substances amount to 647
Autonomy Law.
- Manufacturing and agricultural sectors respectively
in 2001. The most cases were due to accidents of exposure
to and intoxication with gases or vapours (excluding
contribute 21.9% and 1.4% to gross domestic product
organic solvents and halogenated hydrocarbons and their
(GDP)(2000, Annual National Accounts) and respectively
vapours), and counted 201 (2001, Vital Statistics for
employ 12.994 million people and 260,000 people (1996,
Population).
Establishment And Enterprise Census).
- For accidents involving chemicals, such as explosions and
fires, around of 10 cases per year are reported to the
CHAPTER 2 provides a general overview of the production,
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
import, export and disposal of chemicals.
- Various kinds of chemicals are produced in Japan. In
CHAPTER 4 provides a general overview of the laws and
regulations (under the jurisdictions of the Ministry of
CHAPTER 8 provides a general overview of the access to
Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of
data and their utilisation.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the Ministry of
- The relevant data is available through databases managed
Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Ministry of
by governmental institutions, public organisations, etc. as
the Environment (MOE)) for chemical management,
well as the homepages of relevant ministries. A large part
procedures based on these laws and regulations, responses
of these data are accessible via the Internet. However,
to conventions and examples of measures other than laws
some of them are only available in Japanese.
and regulations.
- As for frameworks other than laws and regulations, this
- A large number of international documents such as
Environmental Health Criteria (EHC), Concise
chapter introduces voluntary activities by industries such
International Chemical Assessment Documents (CICAD)
as, Responsible Care programme, voluntary management
can be accessed via the Internet. Part of these is available
plans by businesses regarding reduction of hazardous air
in Japanese.
pollutants.
- International databases such as ILO/CIS are available via
the Internet.
CHAPTER 5 provides a general overview of mandates of the
related divisions and offices of the Ministry of Health,
CHAPTER 9 provides a general overview of the
Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of Agriculture,
technological infrastructure.
Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the Ministry of Economy,
- As for research infrastructure, the National Institute of
Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of the
Health Sciences (NIHS) and the National Institute of
Environment (MOE), as well as the services of incorporated
Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) are
administrative agencies.
introduced among others.
- The government is actively promoting the
CHAPTER 6 provides a general overview of activities by
computerisation of administration, and undertakes
chemical industry associations, public organisations and
computerisation of the notification of new chemicals based
research institutes.
on the Law Concerning the Evaluation of Chemical
Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc.;
CHAPTER 7 provides a general overview of the
registration of business establishments handling or
coordination and cooperation structure among ministries
importing poisonous and deleterious substances based on
and agencies, etc.
the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law,
- Various inter-ministerial meetings, etc. have been
and notification by businesses regarding amounts of
established in order to effectively and efficiently promote
emission and transfer based on the Law Concerning
varied measures regarding chemical substances.
Reporting, etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific
- As for frameworks to obtain opinions from experts and
information from private organisations, etc., advisory
councils are being established by government institutions,
Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in
Their Management.
- As for training and education programmes, training for
and there are also public comment procedures inviting
officials in charge of implementing the Law Concerning
public opinion.
Reporting, etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific
Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in
CHAPTER 12 describes available resources at government
Their Management, as well as chemical substances
organisations and the number of officials at their relevant
administration programmes for employees of local public
divisions and offices.
organisations are undertaken.
ANNEX 1 provides a glossary of terms used in this
CHAPTER 10 provides a general overview of international
document.
cooperation.
- For each of the relevant international organisations, focal
ANNEX 2 contains major reports and manuals published or
points are nominated. Information is exchanged through
supervised by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
those focal points.
(MHLW), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
- Japan has joined several international conventions
Fisheries (MAFF), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
regarding chemical management such as the Stockholm
Industry (METI) and the Ministry of the Environment
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs
(MOE).
Convention).
- As for technological assistance projects, among others the
ASEAN Seminar for workers for chemical producing
ANNEX 3 provides the names and addresses of important
organisations.
companies has been held.
ANNEX 4 provides the abbreviations used in this document.
CHAPTER 11 provides a general overview of raising
awareness and promoting understanding among workers
and the public.
- The obligations of business owners regarding the training
of workers are stipulated in the Industrial Safety and
Health Law and related regulations.
- Regarding the management of chemical substances in the
workplace, the Guidelines for the Necessary Measures to
Prevent Health Impairments of Workers Due to Chemical
Substances, etc. were established. The objectives of the
Guidelines are to promote the voluntary management of
chemical substances by business owners and contribute to
the prevention of health damage among workers.
- The Japan Advanced Information Center of Safety and
Health and other organisations are active in raising
awareness of chemicals.
- Raising the public’s awareness of chemical substances is
taking place through a variety of methods such as lectures,
distribution of pamphlets, and publication via the Internet.
Chapter 1
Background information
1
1
Related organisations and their activities
1
1.1
Geography
The area of Japan is approximately 378,000 km2, and it is situated in the sea east of the Asian
continent. With the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Sea of Japan to the west, the Sea of
Okhotsk to the north and the East China Sea to the south, Japan has no direct connection to
other countries via land routes. Japan consists of the four large islands of—from north to
south—Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, and approximately 3,000 smaller islands.
About 300 of these islands are inhabited.
Diagram 1-1
Map of Japan
Rebun Island
Rishiri Island
Sea of Okhotsk
Kunashiri
Island
Etorofu
Island
Shikotan Island
Habomai Islands
Sea of Japan
Ishikari Plain
Amami Oshima
Island
Okinawa
Island
Sado Island
Echigo Plain
Oki Islands
Kanto Plain
Tsushima
Islands
Pacific Ocean
Oshima Island
Nobi Plain
Goto Islands
Osaka Plain
Tsukushi Plain
Yakushima Island
Awaji Island
Tanegashima
Island
1
1.2
Official language and education system
Japan’s official language is Japanese, and literacy rate is almost 100%. Six years of elementary
school and three years of junior high school are compulsory, and 94% (as of 2001) of full-day
students continue to secondary education, a rate that rises to 97.3% when day/evening and
correspondence courses (regular courses) and upper secondary special training colleges are
included (as of 2001). The advancement ratio of students to higher education (universities
and all other institutes and courses of higher education) is 49.3% (as of 2001), a rate which
rises to 71.8% when students advancing to degree courses in correspondence colleges, the
University of the Air or specialised training colleges are included.
(Source: Homepage of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
(MEXT) – http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/toukei/index.htm)
1
1.3
Population
The total population of Japan is approximately 127 million people, of which approximately
99.9 million people (79%) live in urban areas and approximately 27.1 million people (21%)
live in rural areas (as of 2000).
Table 1-1
Total population and age composition
YEAR
POPULATION (UNIT: 1,000 PERSONS)
TOTAL NUMBER
0-14 YEARS
15-64 YEARS
PROPORTION (%)
65 YEARS AND OVER
0-14 YEARS
15-64 YEARS
65 YEARS AND OVER
1920
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1925
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1930
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1935
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1950
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1955
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1960
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1965
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1970
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1975
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1980
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1985
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1990
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
1995
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
2000
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
Source: Report on National Census, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications.
Note: Persons whose ages are unknown have been included in the total numbers since 1975.
Table 1-2
Urban and rural population
YEAR
POPULATION
POPULATION IN
URBAN AREAS
(%)
RURAL AREAS
(%)
1920
,,
,,
,,
1925
,,
,,
,,
1930
,,
,,
,,
1935
,,
,,
,,
1940
,,
,,
,,
1945
,,
,,
,,
1947
,,
,,
,,
1950
,,
,,
,,
1955
,,
,,
,,
1960
,,
,,
,,
1965
,,
,,
,,
1970
,,
,,
,,
1975
,,
,,
,,
1980
,,
,,
,,
1985
,,
,,
,,
1990
,,
,,
,,
1995
,,
,,
,,
2000
,,
,,
,,
Source: Report on National Census, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications.
Note: The population of Okinawa is not included in the figures for 1945 and 1947.
Urban area population refers to the population of cities (including the Tokyo metropolitan special districts). Rural area population refers to the total population of
towns and villages.
1
1.4
Average life expectancy
In 2000, the average life expectancy was 77.6 years for men and 84.6 years for women.
Table 1-3
Average life expectancy in Japan
YEAR
AGE
1936
1947
1952
1955
1965
1975
1985
1990
1995
2000
Men
0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
5
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
10
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
20
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
30
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
40
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
50
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
60
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
70
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
80
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
85
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
90
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
5
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
10
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
20
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
30
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
40
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
50
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
60
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
70
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
80
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
85
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
90
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Women
Source: Life Expectancies, Abridged Life Tables for Japan 2001, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).
1
1.5
Working population and rate of unemployment
The number of working age people (15 to 64 years) is approximately 86.2 million. The rate
of unemployment in 2001 was 5.0% (as of 2000).
Table 1-4
Unemployment rate
TOTAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (%)
YEAR
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65YEARS
Men
1985
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
and
1990
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
women
1994
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1995
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1996
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1997
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1998
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1999
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2000
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2001
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1985
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1990
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1994
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1995
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1996
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Men
Women
OVERALL
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
1997
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1998
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1999
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2000
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2001
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1985
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1990
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1994
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1995
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1996
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1997
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1998
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1999
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2000
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2001
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Source: Labour Force Survey, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).
1
2
Political structure
1
2.1
Form of government
The present Constitution came into effect on 3 May 1947. The Cabinet Law came into effect
at the same time, and with it the present cabinet system was established. In other words,
under the sovereignty of the nation the separation of the three powers of executive,
legislature and judiciary is ensured thoroughly, and at the same time, under the basic
framework of a two-house parliamentary cabinet system, the Cabinet was given the status of
the main body of executive authority.
Diagram 1-2
The separation of the three powers under the Japanese Constitution
Determine the constitutionality of legislation
Designation of Prime Minister
Nonconfidence resolution
Diet
Legislature
Dissolve Lower House
(House of Representatives)
Convoke Diet
Impeachment trial
Elections
Sovereignty
Nation
Administration
Cabinet
Administrative organs
Review of judges
Supreme Court
Judiciary
Designation of the chief judge of Supreme Court
Appointment of judges to the Supreme Court
Review of the legitimacy of acts of parliament,
regulations and enforcements
Table 1-5
The parliamentary cabinet system
Under the present Constitution, a parliamentary cabinet system has been adopted. With this system, the selection of the Prime
Minister and other important requirements of the Cabinet rest on the confidence of the Diet, and this is stipulated clearly in
the following passages of the Constitution:
1. The Prime Minister is to be designated from among the members of the Diet by a resolution of the Diet (Article 67,
Paragraph 1).
2. The majority of Ministers of State must be chosen from among the members of the Diet (Article 68 Paragraph 1, Proviso).
3. The Cabinet is to be collectively responsible to the Diet in its exercise of executive power (Article 66, Paragraph 3).
4. The Cabinet requires the confidence of the House of Representative (Articles 69 and 70).
The Prime Minister is given the position of Head of the Cabinet, and representing the
Cabinet.
Furthermore, under the Constitution, executive power is vested in the Cabinet. The
Cabinet Office and 10 ministries established under the Cabinet exercise administration.
Furthermore the committees and agencies established as external bureaus of the Cabinet
Office.
Diagram 1-3
The structure of Diet, Executive and Judiciary
Diet
Cabinet
Court
House of Representatives
Cabinet Office
Supreme Court
House of Councillors
National Public Safety Commission
Defense Agency
Judge Impeachment Court
Judges Indictment Committee
Ministry of Public Management,
Home Affairs,
Posts and Telecommunications
High Courts (8)
District Courts (50)
Family Courts (50)
Summary Courts (438)
National Diet Library
Ministry of Justice
Committees for the
Inquest of Prosecution (201)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Ministry of Finance (MOF)
Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT)
Ministry of Health,
Labour and Welfare (MHLW)
Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)
Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry (METI)
Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT)
Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
Source: Homepage of the Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet
(English: http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/constitution_and_government/frame_government.html)
1
2.2
The number of local public authorities
There are 47 prefectures, 675 cities, 1,981 towns and 562 villages in Japan. Thirty cities have
been designated as major urban cities (as of April 2002).
1
2.3
The state of local public authorities and
decentralisation
The fundamental principle of local autonomy is set in the Local Autonomy Law (Law No. 67
of 1947). In this law, apart from the formal and organisational framework of local public
authorities, matters regarding administration are defined. Furthermore, the said law
stipulates the fundamental relation between local authorities and the central government.
1
3
The manufacturing and agricultural sectors
Table 1-6
Overview of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors
SECTOR
1) CONTRIBUTION RATE TO GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
(2000)
(UNIT: BILLION YEN)
2) NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
(1996)
(1,000 PERSONS)
,
(.%)
,
(.%)
Mining
(.%)
(.%)
Agriculture or agriculture,
forestry and fisheries
,
(.%)
(.%)
,
(.%)
,
(.%)
Manufacturing
Total
Sources: 1) Annual National Accounts, Cabinet Office; 2) Establishment And Enterprise Census, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and
Telecommunications.
Note: The definitions of manufacturing and agricultural sectors in each of the statistics vary.
Table 1-7
The structure of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors
SECTOR
MICRO BUSINESSES
SMALL-SCALE BUSINESSES
MEDIUM-SCALE BUSINESSES
LARGE-SCALE BUSINESSES
Manufacturing
,
(.%)
,
(.%)
,
(.%)
,
(.%)
Agriculture, forestry
and fisheries
,
(.%)
,
(.%)
(.%)
(.%)
,,
(.%)
,
(.%)
,
(.%)
,
(.%)
Total of all sectors
Source: Establishment and Enterprise Census, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications.
Note: As of 10 October 1996, micro businesses are defined here as holding between 1 and 19 employees, small-scale businesses between 20 and 99 employees,
medium-scale businesses between 99 and 299 employees, and large-scale businesses more than 300 employees.
1
4
Employment in the major economic sectors
Table 1-8
Employment situation in major types of industry
TYPE OF INDUSTRY
NUMBER OF BUSINESSES (ESTABLISHMENTS)
,
,
Coal and lignite mining
,
Crude petroleum and natural gas
,
,
,
,
,,
Beverages, tobacco and feed
,
,
Textile mill products
,
,
Apparel and other finished products
made from fabrics and similar material
,
,
Lumber and wood products, except furniture
,
,
Furniture and fixtures
,
,
Pulp, paper and paper products
,
,
Publishing, printing and related industries
,
,
Chemicals and related products
,
,
Petroleum and coal products
,
,
Forestry
Metal mining
Non-ferrous metallic ore mining
Food
,
,
Leather tanning, leather products and fur skins
,
,
Ceramic, stone and clay products
,
,
Iron and steel
,
,
Non-ferrous metals and products
,
,
Fabricated metal products
,
,
General machinery
,
,,
Electrical machinery, equipment and supplies
,
,,
Transportation equipment
,
,,
Precision instruments and machinery
,
,
Ordnance
,
Electricity
,
,
Gas
,
Heat supply
,
Water
,
,
,
Plastic products
Waste treatment services
Source: 2001 Establishment and Enterprise Census, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications.
Note: As of 1 October 2001.
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Chapter 2
Production, import, export and disposal of
chemicals
2
1
Production, import and export of chemicals
Various kinds of chemicals are produced in Japan. In terms of annual production amount,
industrial organic chemicals make up the largest share with 34.9 million tons, followed by
high compressed gases, plastic materials, industrial inorganic chemicals and pigments,
aromatic hydrocarbons and coal tar.
Table 2-1
Production of chemicals
Ammonia and ammonia derivatives
Among which:
Ammonia
Ammonium sulfate
Nitric acid
,,
,,
(% NH3 equivalent basis)
,,
,
(% HNO3 equivalent basis)
Urea
,
Ammonium sulphate (by-product)
,
Phosphate fertilizers and compound fertilizers
,,
Among which:
,,
Compound fertilizers (granular chemical –fetilizer)
Superphosphate fertilizers
,
Concentrated superphosphate and multi-phosphate fertilizers
,
Fused (magnesium) phosphate fertilizer
,
Industrial sodium chemicals
Among which:
Sodium hydroxide
,,
Chlorine, gas
,,
Hydrochloric acid
,,
(% HCl equivalent basis)
Sodium hypochlorite
,,
(% NaClO equivalent basis)
Chlorine, liquid
Industrial inorganic chemicals and pigments
Among which:
,,
,
,,
Sulphuric acid
,,
(% H2SO4 equivalent basis)
Chemical gypsum
,,
(dihydrate equivalent basis)
Aluminium sulphate
,
(% solid equivalent basis)
Carbon black
,
Sodium silicate
,
,
Catalyst
Among which:
For technical grade
,
For environmental
,
Lime and precipitated calcium carbonate
,,
Slaked lime
,,
Precipitated calcium carbonate
Oxygen
,,
Nitrogen
,,
Carbon dioxide
,
Hydrogen
,
Argon
,
Explosives (for industrial use)
Aromatic hydrocarbons and coal tar
Among which:
,
,,
Xylene (including non-petroleum base)
,,
Benzene, pure (including non-petroleum base)
,,
Para-xylene
,,
Coal tar
,,
Toluene, pure (including non-petroleum base)
,,
Cyclic chemicals and synthetic dyes
,,
Among which:
Styrene monomer
,,
Terephtalic acid (pure)
,,
Phenol
,
Cyclohexane
,
Bisphenol A
,
Industrial organic chemicals
Among which:
Among which:
,,
Ethylene
,,
Propylene
,,
Pyralysis gasoline
,,
Ethylene dichloride
,,
Butane/butylene
,,
,,
Plastic (materials)
Polyethylene
,,
Vinyl chloride (monomer)
,,
Polypropylene
,,
Vinyl chloride resins, polyvinyl chloride
,,
Polystyrene
,,
Synthetic rubbers (including synthetic latex)
,,
Oil and fat products and soap and synthetic detergent
,,
Among which:
Synthetic detergent
,
Fatty acids
,
Fabric softener
,
Bleaching agent
,
Soap
,
Surface-active agents
Surface-active agents
Higher alcohols
,
,,
High compressed gas
Among which:
,,
Quick lime
,,
,,
,
Cosmetics
,
Paints
,,
Printing inks
,
Among which:
Printing inks
,
Printing inks varnishes
,
Agricultural chemicals
,
Among which:
Insecticides
,
Fungicides
,
Combined insect- and fungicides
,
Herbicides
,
Rodenticides
Plant growth regulators
,
Adjuvants/coadjuvants
,
,
Others
Source: Yearbook of Chemical Industries Statistics 2001, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Agricultural chemicals Directory 2002, Japan Plant Protection
Association.
Note 1: Weight unit is basically indicated in metric ton. The exceptions are as follows: the unit for high compressed gases is indicated in 103m3; the data of
agricultural chemicals (insecticides, fungicides, combined insect- and fungicides, etc.) is using value converted into metric ton from kL in case agricultural chemicals
are liquid.
Note 2: The classifications used in Table 2-1 are not consistent with those of Table 2-2 since they are cited from different statistics.
Many kinds of chemicals are also imported as well as exported. In terms of annual
import/export amount of industrial organic chemicals make up the largest share with
approximately 4.51 million tons of import and approximately 8.71 million tons of export.
Table 2-2
Import and export of chemicals
INORGANIC CHEMICALS (INCLUDING PRECIOUS METALS, RARE EARTH METALS, RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS, ETC.)
IMPORT
EXPORT
Total volume of imports
,,
Total volume of exports
,,
Among
which:
Carbonates, peroxcarbonates, etc.
(HS2836)
,
Among
which:
,,
Artificial corundum, aluminium
oxide and aluminium hydroxide
(HS2818)
,
Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda),
potassium hydroxide (caustic
potash), and peroxides of sodium
or potassium (HS2815)
,
Hydrogen, rare gases and other
non-metals (HS2804)
,
Artificial corundum, aluminium
oxide and aluminium hydroxide
(HS2818)
,
,
Sulphuric acid and oleum
(HS2807)
Silicates, etc. (HS2839)
,
Sulphates, alums and peroxosulphates
(persulphates) (HS2833)
Chlorides, chloride oxides, chloride
hydroxides, bromides, bromide
oxides, iodides and iodide oxides
(HS2827)
,
Carbonates, peroxcarbonates, etc.
(HS2836)
,
ORGANIC CHEMICALS
IMPORT
Total volume of imports
Among
which:
Acyclic alcohols and their
derivatives (HS2905)
EXPORT
,,
,,
Total volume of exports
Among
which:
Cyclic hydrocarbons (HS2902)
,,
,,
Halogenated derivatives of
hydrocarbons (HS2903)
,
Acyclic hydrocarbons (HS2901)
,
Cyclic hydrocarbons (HS2902)
,
Polycarboxylic acids and their
anhydrides, halides, peroxides and
peroxyacids, and their derivatives
(HS2917)
,
Polycarboxylic acids and their
anhydrides, halides, peroxides and
peroxyacids, and their derivatives
(HS2917)
,
Acyclic alcohols and their
derivatives (HS2905)
,
Oxygen-function aminocompounds (HS2922)
,
Heterocyclic compounds with nitrogen
hetero-atom (s) only (HS2933)
,
Fertilizers
IMPORT
,,
Total volume of imports
Among
which:
EXPORT
Potassic fertilizers (mineral or
chemical fertilizers) (HS3104)
,
Mineral or chemical fertilizers
containing two or three of the
fertilising elements (nitrogen,
phosphorous or potassium) and
other fertilizers (HS3105)
,
Nitrogenous fertilizers (mineral or
chemical fertilizers) (HS3102)
Phosphatic fertilizers (mineral or
chemical fertilizers) (HS3103)
,
Total volume of exports
Among
which:
,
Nitrogenous fertilizers (mineral
or chemical fertilizers) (HS3102)
,
Mineral or chemical fertilizers
containing two or three of the
fertilising elements (nitrogen,
phosphorous or potassium) and
other fertilizers (HS3105)
,
Potassic fertilizers (mineral or
chemical fertilizers) (HS3104)
,
Phosphatic fertilizers (mineral or
chemical fertilizers) (HS3103)
DYES, PIGMENTS AND OTHER COLOURING MATTER, PAINTS, VARNISHES, PUTTY, INKS, ETC.
IMPORT
,
Total volume of imports
Among
which:
EXPORT
Other colouring matter (excluding
those classified as a colouring
matters of vegetable or animal
origin, synthetic organic colouring
matter and colour lakes) (HS3206)
,
Synthetic organic colouring matter
(HS3204)
,
Total volume of exports
Other colouring matter (excluding
those classified as a colouring
matters of vegetable or animal
origin, synthetic organic colouring
matter and colour lakes) (HS3206)
,
,
Paints and varnishes (nonaqueous,
including enamels and lacquers)
(HS3208)
,
Paints and varnishes (nonaqueous,
including enamels and lacquers)
(HS3208)
,
Printing ink, writing or drawing
ink, etc. (HS3215)
,
Putty, resin cements, etc. (HS3214)
,
Synthetic organic colouring matter
(HS3204)
,
Prepared pigments, prepared
opacifiers and prepared colours,
vitrifiable enamels and glazes,
etc. (HS3207)
,
Putty, resin cements, etc. (HS3214)
,
Among
which:
ESSENTIAL OILS AND RESINOIDS; AND PERFUMERY, COSMETIC OR TOILET PREPARATIONS
IMPORT
Total volume of imports
Among
which:
Shaving preparations, personal
deodorants, bath preparations,
depilatories, etc. (HS3307)
EXPORT
,
,
Total volume of exports
,
Among
which:
,
Preparations for use on the hair
(HS3305)
Beauty or make-up preparations
and preparations for the care of
the skin, etc. (HS3304)
,
Beauty or make-up preparations
and preparations for the care of
the skin, etc. (HS3304)
,
Essential oils, resinoids, extracted
oleoresins, etc. (HS3301)
,
Mixtures of odoriferous substances,
etc. (HS3302)
,
Preparations for use on the hair
(HS3305)
,
Shaving preparations, personal
deodorants, bath preparations,
depilatories, etc. (HS3307)
,
Preparations for oral or dental
hygiene and dental floss (HS3306)
,
Preparations for oral or dental
hygiene and dental floss (HS3306)
,
SOAP, ORGANIC SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS, WASHING PREPARATIONS, LUBRICATING PREPARATIONS, WAXES, MODELLING
PASTES, DENTAL PREPARATIONS, ETC.
IMPORT
EXPORT
Total volume of imports
,
Total volume of exports
Among
which:
,
Among
which:
Organic surface-active agents
(other than soap), surface-active
preparations, washing preparations
(including auxiliary washing
preparations) and cleaning
preparations (HS3402)
,
Organic surface-active agents
(other than soap), surface-active
preparations, washing preparations
(including auxiliary washing
preparations) and cleaning
preparations (HS3402)
,
Soap, organic surface-active
products and preparations for
use as soap, etc. (HS3401)
,
Lubricating preparations, etc.
(HS3403)
,
Lubricating preparations, etc.
(HS3403)
,
Polishes and creams, etc. (HS3405)
,
Artificial waxes and prepared
waxes (HS3404)
,
Artificial waxes and prepared
waxes (HS3404)
,
,
Soap, organic surface-active
products and preparations for
use as soap, etc. (HS3401)
,
Polishes and creams, etc. (HS3405)
ALBUMINOIDAL SUBSTANCES, MODIFIED STARCHES, GLUES AND ENZYMES
IMPORT
EXPORT
Total volume of imports
,
Total volume exports
,
Among
which:
,
Among
which:
,
Dextrins and other modified
starches, etc. (HS3505)
Albumins, etc. (HS3502)
Prepared glues and other prepared
adhesives, etc. (HS3506)
,
Dextrins and other modified
starches, etc. (HS3505)
,
Casein, etc. (HS3501)
,
Enzymes (HS3507)
,
Prepared glues and other prepared
adhesives, etc. (HS3506)
,
Gelatin, etc. (HS3503)
,
Peptones and their derivatives, etc.
(HS3504)
,
Casein, etc. (HS3501)
EXPLOSIVES, PYROTECHNIC PRODUCTS, MATCHES, PYROPHORIC ALLOYS AND CERTAIN COMBUSTIBLE PREPARATIONS
IMPORT
Total volume of imports
Among
which:
EXPORT
,
Fireworks, etc. (HS3604)
,
Ferrocerium, etc. (HS3606)
,
Total volume of exports
,
Among
which:
,
Matches (H
