Industrial Safety and Health Act (Japan)

Japan MHLW Amends Designation Criteria For Carcinogenic Substances Under Industrial Safety And Health Ordinance

Japan’s MHLW has clarified the designation criteria for carcinogenic substances under the Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance, effective March 31, 2026. Businesses must verify substance inventories against recent GHS classification updates to ensure accurate risk assessments and workplace safety compliance.

3 Apr 2026, 18:51mhlw.go.jpJapan

Japan: MHLW Ordinance No. 68 Adds Four Hazardous Chemicals (Including PFAS) to Labour Safety and Health Annex 2

Japan has designated four new hazardous chemicals, including two PFAS, for regulation under the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA) effective April 1, 2026. Businesses must prepare for mandatory workplace exposure controls and health monitoring, reflecting Japan's tightening oversight of persistent and hazardous substances.

3 Apr 2026, 18:46kanpo.go.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Adopts Ordinance Implementing 2025 Amendments to Industrial Safety and Working Environment Acts

Japan promulgated Ministerial Ordinance No. 29 on March 23, 2026, implementing the 2025 amendments to the Industrial Safety and Health Act. Companies must now ensure machinery and safety equipment provided to home-based workers meet ministerial standards, while new rules align safety compliance thresholds with accident compensation insurance.

27 Mar 2026, 16:18kanpo.go.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Amends Standards and Safety Devices Under Industrial Safety and Health Act (Notice No. 101)

Japan's MHLW has updated technical standards and safety device requirements for industrial machinery under the Industrial Safety and Health Act, effective April 1, 2027. Manufacturers and operators must review equipment specifications and protective device compliance during the transition period to ensure market access and workplace safety alignment.

27 Mar 2026, 16:14kanpo.go.jpJapan

Japan Cabinet Order Reorganises Orders to Implement Amendments to the Industrial Safety and Health and Working Environment Measurement Acts

Japan promulgated a Cabinet Order on March 18, 2026, to implement 2025 amendments to the Industrial Safety and Health Act and Working Environment Measurement Act, effective April 1, 2026. Companies should prepare for updated occupational safety management and measurement standards, while operators of specialized aircraft face new incident reporting and operational safety requirements.

26 Mar 2026, 12:24kanpo.go.jpJapan

Japan Authorities Consult On Amendments To Hazard Information Reporting Ordinance And Guidance Under CSCL

Japan is modernizing CSCL hazard reporting by transitioning to electronic submissions and refining data requirements for monitoring and Class II substances, effective May 2026. Companies must update internal reporting workflows for digital compliance and assess expanded data obligations for Class II substances to ensure alignment with the revised ordinance.

19 Mar 2026, 19:34public-comment.e-gov.go.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Sets Performance Inspection Methods for Boilers and Specified Machinery Under Industrial Safety and Health Act

Japan has finalized mandatory performance inspection methods for boilers and pressure vessels under the Industrial Safety and Health Act, effective April 1, 2026. Facility operators must ensure equipment maintenance and documentation align with these specific mechanical-integrity criteria to pass mandatory inspections by registered bodies.

18 Mar 2026, 18:49kanpo.go.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Issues Manual On SDS Substitute Chemical Names

Japan’s MHLW has issued operational guidance for using substitute chemical names to protect trade secrets on Safety Data Sheets, effective April 1, 2026. Companies must implement precise masking and record-keeping procedures to balance intellectual property protection with mandatory hazard communication and emergency disclosure obligations.

8 Mar 2026, 13:31mhlw.go.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Notice 44 Aligns Skill Training Rules With Industrial Safety and Working Environment Amendments

Japan has updated skill training regulations for construction machinery and pressure vessels to align with the 2025 amendments to the Industrial Safety and Health Act. Operators and training providers should update internal compliance documentation to reflect renumbered statutory references, though core training obligations remain unchanged.

27 Feb 2026, 08:35kanpo.go.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Defines Low-Hazard Notified Substances for Risk Assessment Under Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance

Japan's MHLW has established criteria to identify low-hazard notified substances under the Industrial Safety and Health Act, effective April 1, 2026. This classification streamlines workplace risk assessment obligations by focusing stringent control requirements on high-hazard chemicals while clarifying compliance for lower-risk materials.

26 Feb 2026, 13:23kanpo.go.jpJapan

Japan NITE Updates CHRIP Chemical Risk Database With February 2026 Regulatory List Changes

Japan’s NITE updated the CHRIP database in February 2026, incorporating hundreds of new substance classifications and regulatory list changes across Japanese and international frameworks. This update serves as a critical compliance screening tool for identifying evolving obligations under CSCL, ISHA, REACH, and global transport regulations.

24 Feb 2026, 19:23chem-info.nite.go.jpJapanEuropean UnionUnited StatesTaiwanGlobal

Japan MHLW Issues Guidelines on Notification of Alternative Chemical Names for Notified Substances

Japan's MHLW has issued guidelines allowing the use of alternative chemical names on SDS for certain low-hazard substances to protect trade secrets, effective April 1, 2026. Businesses can now safeguard proprietary formulations while meeting hazard communication duties, provided they establish emergency disclosure protocols and maintain robust compliance records.

24 Feb 2026, 19:16mhlw.go.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Launches Survey on Handling of Carcinogenic Substances Subject to 30-Year Work Record Retention

Japan’s MHLW has launched a survey on carcinogenic substances to prepare for mandatory 30-year work-record retention requirements starting April 2027. Businesses handling these substances must prepare for significant long-term administrative obligations and ensure robust exposure tracking under the revised Industrial Safety and Health Act.

17 Feb 2026, 16:08mhlw.go.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Explains Skipping Public Comment For Industrial Safety And Health Act Health Promotion Guidelines Amendment

Japan's MHLW has updated national workplace health promotion guidelines to align with new safety standards for older workers. This procedural update reflects Japan's increasing regulatory focus on managing an aging workforce within broader occupational health and safety frameworks.

12 Feb 2026, 16:15public-comment.e-gov.go.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Publishes Health Maintenance and Promotion Guidelines Under Industrial Safety and Health Act

Japan’s MHLW has issued updated health maintenance and promotion guidelines under the Industrial Safety and Health Act as of February 2026. Employers should review internal occupational health programs to ensure alignment with these new implementation standards for workplace wellness and duty of care.

12 Feb 2026, 15:32kanpo.go.jpJapan

Japan Consults on Draft ISHA Amendments on Chemical Label/SDS Scope and Carcinogen Record-Retention

Japan is consulting on draft amendments to the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA) to expand the list of substances requiring mandatory labelling and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) by April 2028. The proposal also introduces a 30-year record-retention requirement for carcinogenic substances, signaling a long-term shift toward stricter occupational health oversight and hazard communication for industrial chemicals.

11 Feb 2026, 13:12public-comment.e-gov.go.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Ordinance Implements Amendments To Industrial Safety And Health And Working Environment Measurement Acts

Japan has finalized the staged implementation of significant amendments to its industrial safety and health laws, with key requirements rolling out between 2026 and 2030. Companies must adapt to stricter SDS enforcement, new chemical exposure monitoring standards, and expanded safety obligations for machinery and non-employee workers.

22 Jan 2026, 07:50kanpo.go.jpJapan

Japan Adds 167 New Chemical Substances Under ISHA (26 December 2025)

Japan's MHLW has officially added 167 new chemical substances to the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA) inventory as of December 2025. Impacted businesses must verify substance listings to ensure mandatory GHS labeling and SDS compliance for the Japanese market.

19 Jan 2026, 17:01anzeninfo.mhlw.go.jpJapan

Japan Publishes Revised JIS GHS Classification and SDS Standards JIS Z 7252:2025 and JIS Z 7253:2025

Japan has updated its GHS classification and hazard communication standards (JIS Z 7252/7253:2025) to align with the UN GHS 9th revision. Businesses must re-evaluate chemical portfolios and update labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) before the mandatory enforcement deadline of December 25, 2030.

19 Jan 2026, 10:18webdesk.jsa.or.jpJapan

Japan MHLW Announces Seminars On Autonomous Management Of Workplace Chemicals For Food Service And Hospitality

Japan's MHLW is intensifying compliance support for autonomous chemical management in the hospitality and food sectors through targeted 2026 seminars. Businesses must align with 2024 Industrial Safety and Health Act mandates, focusing on chemical manager appointments and risk assessments for cleaning agents.

9 Jan 2026, 13:29mhlw.go.jpJapan