Advisory to U.S. exporters of building products to Japan
U.S. exporters of building material products to Japan should be aware of revised regulations that took effect on July 1, 2003. These revised regulations impose new testing and certification requirements for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde.
In response to public health concerns associated with the "sick house" syndrome, Japan's Building Standards Law was amended in July 2002 to require that technical standards be developed to regulate air quality in "habitable rooms," defined as rooms in residences, commercial office space, restaurants, or hotels, etc., by restricting the use of building materials that contain VOCs and by requiring ventilation systems in all buildings. Materials containing the chemical chlorpyrifos (an insecticide used for termites) can no longer be used in such habitable rooms.
Japan's agricultural and industrial standards are currently being revised to
reflect these new requirements. The revised regulations will require products that are not covered by Japan's agricultural and industrial standards to be tested for formaldehyde by a designated evaluation body and approved by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MLIT). This applies both to domestic and imported products.
For those who would like more information in English about the evaluation of building materials in light of these revised regulations, please visit the following website. After visiting the website, questions may be addressed in English via fax or email to:
International Department
The Building Center of Japan
FAX: 81-3-3434-5069
Email: kokusai@bcj.or.jp
For further information in Japanese, please refer to the contact information for the nine designated evaluation bodies listed on the following document:
the nine designated evaluation bodies
The point of contact on this issue for the Commercial Service in Japan is:
Mark Wildman
Commercial Officer
Compliance Unit
Commercial Service Japan
U.S. Embassy Tokyo
Tel: (011-81-3) 3224-5316
Fax: (011-81-3) 3224-5093
E-mail: mark.wildman@mail.doc.gov