Specific exemptions
TetraBDE, PentaBDE, HexaBDE and Hepta BDE

• Use for recycling plastics from specific post-consumer use home appliances (air-conditioners, TV sets, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and clothes dryers) and personal computers to construction materials and daily necessities such as hangers and bookends in accordance with the provisions of Part IV and V of Annex A.

Acceptable purposes
PFOS, its salts and PFOSF

• Production and use for Photo-imaging, Photo-resistant and anti-reflective coatings for semi-conductors, Etching agent for compound semi-conductors and ceramic filters, Certain medical devices in accordance with Annex B.

Process prior to registering for an exemption
The government collected relevant information in reference to Annex F "information on socio-economic considerations", particularly focusing on available alternatives and impact on society, in preparation for risk management evaluations by the POPRC and the COP. Following the COP's decision, the government investigated chemical uses in domestic industries in preparation for its national ban on the chemicals. It was then realised that there is a need for the exemption.

Benefits of registering for an exemption
PFOS, its salts and PFOSF

• It is considered that relevant industries can enjoy sufficient transition period to develop and apply alternative techniques.

• Recycling specific post-consumer use home appliances is an obligation of home appliance manufacturers and importers under the Home Appliance Recycling Law. It is necessary to enable recycling of plastics from specific post-consumer use home appliances to maintain appropriate management system of the post-consumer specific home appliances and establish a sound material-cycle society. Recycling of such plastics is operated in an environmentally sound manner under the law.
• Recycling used personal computers is an obligation for personal computer manufacturers and importers under the Law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources. It is necessary to enable recycling of plastics from used personal computers to maintain appropriate management system of the used personal computers and establish a sound material-cycle society. Recycling of such plastics is operated in an environmentally sound manner under the law.

Measures in place at the national level for exemption
The ban on the use of chemicals, other than for the specific purposes, was implemented under the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL). The recycling of plastics from specific post-consumer use home appliances and used personal computers in an environmentally sound manner have been promoted under the Home Appliance Recycling Law and the Law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources; otherwise, the final disposal of the plastics should be carried out in an environmentally sound manner under the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act.

Trade control measures
Trade control measures are in place because the trade of POPs is prohibited by CSCL and the Export Trade Control Order except only for the use allowed under the Convention, including registered exemptions.

Assessing the need for continued exemption
In preparation for the evaluation and review of the need for a specific exemption by the COP, the Government of Japan assesses the use of the chemicals as necessary and discusses the ongoing need for the exemption.

Obstacles faced in registering for the exemption
None