On September 24, 2021, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan promulgated a ministerial ordinance to revise effluent standard. The ordinance will be enforced from December 11, 2021.
This revision is to specify the effluent standards to be applied after the expiration of the current provisional measures for zinc content under the Water Pollution Control Act, as the current provisional measures will expire on December 10, 2021.
Summary of Revision
For electroplating industries for which the current provisional effluent standard has been set, the provisional effluent standard will be strengthened from 5mg/L to 4mg/L, and the period of application will be extended until December 10, 2024.
In addition, the provisional effluent standard for metal mining and sewage industries will be strengthened and shifted to the general effluent standard (2mg/L).
The press release of MOE and related documents can be viewed at the following URLs.
- Press release, “Promulgation of the “Ministerial Ordinance Partially Revising the Ministerial Ordinance for Establishing Effluent Standards, etc.”
https://www.env.go.jp/press/109976.html - Summary of revision
https://www.env.go.jp/press/files/jp/116793.pdf