The Joint Committee to Review CSCL

First Meeting of the Joint Committee to review of the Law Concerning the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc. (CSCL)

Since the review of CSCL is slated during FY 2009, it is necessary to examine current situation of CSCL including the possibility to change the current system in consideration of changes in the environment surrounding chemical substance management.

For that purpose, the joint meeting of the Subcommittee on Amendment of the Chemical Substance Control Regulation, the Committee on Chemical Substance Control Regulation, the Health Sciences Council, the Subcommittee on Planning of Chemical Management, the Chemicals of the Bio-Industry Committee, the Industrial Structure Council, and the Subcommittee for the Environmental Management of Chemicals, the Environment and Health Committee, the Central Environment Council (the First Meeting of the Joint Committee to review CSCL) was held on January 31, 2008.

The Joint Committee to review CSCL consists of about 40 members from various stakeholders such as industry, NPO, and scientist. In order to carry out the deliberations there optimally and smoothly, a working group consisting of about 15 members was established to conduct intensive discussion on following themes.

Based on the WSSD Year 2020 Goal, how can we promote Risk-based Chemical Management while dealing with potentially highly hazardous chemical substances? What kind of information and how much information should be conveyed through the supply chain?

• Chemical Management System that takes the actual status of usage into consideration through the lifecycle;
• Information conveying tools (MSDS) for chemical management in the supply chain;
• Management of potentially high risk chemical substances through the supply chain (including articles containing potentially high risk chemical substances);
• How to deal with the essential use of high hazard chemical substances.

What is the ideal risk assessment under CSCL, what kinds of data (hazard and exposure information) are necessary to conduct this risk assessment, and what is the ideal method to collect that kind of information, while considering the role of the government (including infrastructure development and the point of view of regulation)? In that case what is the best way for the government to collect information in consideration of international harmonization and confidential business information issues?

• Objective of risk assessment and its scope, the role of the government;
• The type of hazard data (SIDS, GHS) and the collection method;
• The type of information such as production volume, intended usage, exposure information and its collection method;
• How to deal with confidential business information from collected data.

What kind of problem does CSCL new chemical assessment system have and how can we improve this while preventing environmental pollution and ensuring international harmonization? (What kind of system should be created? What kind of improvement can we find in terms of enforcement of CSCL?)

• Small quantity confirmation system, low production volume confirmation system, and confirmation system for intermediate;
• Polymers of low concern;
• Publication of hazard assessment result (including names of substances);
• Use of QSAR and category approach for chemical evaluation;
• Approach for persistence in the environment;
• How to deal with nanomaterial.

What is the ideal policy in order to manage chemicals on place market appropriately, including existing chemicals, while achieving international harmonization? What is the role of CSCL and what are the specific measures in order for the government to conduct risk evaluation and risk management measure in an efficient and appropriate manner, including collection of hazard information and exposure information? (How to make priority and list?)

• Long term strategy for risk evaluation and management targeted 2020 objectives;
• Further plan on risk evaluation of chemical substances placed on the market including existing chemicals (prioritize the risk evaluation, review the measures of monitoring chemical substances, value the Japan HPV Challenge Program, and further considerations);
• Appropriate risk management measures for potentially high risk chemical substances;
• Appropriate information publication of chemical risk;
• Liaison between PRTR law and CSCL (sharing the list, possible best-mix of regulation and self-regulation).