Japan ENCS: The Inventory of Existing and New Substances in Japan

The inventory of existing and new chemical substances(Japan ENCS) consists of two parts:

• Existing chemical substances placed on Japanese market before 16 Oct 1973 (approximately 20,600 substances);
• New chemical substances that have been notified under the CSCL, determined to be "safe" and published on government Gazette (approximately 8,000 substances);

ENCS is available for search or download from Chemical Risk Information Platform (CHRIP) via the link below.

How do I know if my substance is a new substance under CSCL in Japan?

Existing substances and notified chemical substances are assigned with METI numbers or Class reference numbers. A substance that does not have a METI number or Class reference number will be regarded as a new substance in Japan and require notification under CSCL.

It is not easy to search ENCS on CHRIP because ENCS listings are not based on CAS numbers. Each ENCS listing identified by one METI number may cover a number of similar substances. If you could not find a METI number or Class reference number for your substance on CHRIP, there are a number of options for you:

• Option 1: Download ENCS from CHRIP and check each entry one by one to determine which entry matches your substance.
• Option 2: Get a reference book called "Handbook of Existing and New Chemical Substances" published by the Chemical Daily in Japan. This reference book provides links between METI numbers and CAS numbers for many substances.
• Option 3: Ask for help from a consultant.

Note: Industrial Safety and Health Law(ISHL) has its own definition of new substances. You should also check ISHL list for your substance. A substance that is listed on ENCS but not listed on ISHL list is also subject to new substance notification under ISHL.

More info about Japan ENCS
http://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/Japan/Japan_ENCS_Inventory_of_Existing_and_New_Chemical_Substances.html