Japan Holds Joint Inter-Ministerial Meeting to Discuss POPs Treaty Substances as Class I Specified Chemical Substances under CSCL

On June 20, 2025, Japan held a joint meeting of three ministries—the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE)—to discuss the handling of substances newly listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs Treaty). The following three substances and their applications were discussed:

• Chlorpyrifos
  An organophosphate pesticide, historically used primarily as an insecticide and termite control agent.
• Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (MCCPs)
  A mixture of paraffinic hydrocarbons with 14–17 carbon atoms bonded to chlorine atoms; used in flame retardants, plasticizers, lubricants, and similar applications.
• Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (LC-PFCAs), Their Salts, and LC-PFCA-Related Substances
  A subgroup of PFAS characterized by extended carbon chains, with properties such as water and oil repellency, heat resistance, and chemical durability. Widely used across various product categories.