Concerning Target Chemical Substances, Criteria for Products, and Businesses subject to PRTR Reporting, as covered by the "Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management."

Yuichi Nagasaka

Assistant Director, Environment Health and Safety Division, Environmental Health Department, Environment Agency
(1-1-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 10-8975 Japan)

Abstract

The "Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management" , known as the "PRTR Law" , was promulgated in July 1999. Businesses subject to PRTR reporting under this Law are required to submit the first report in the year after April 2002, on the quantities of target chemicals released into the environment and/or transferred in the waste in the2001 fiscal year. A cabinet order, setting up the framework of the Law concerning target chemicals, business categories subject to PRTR reporting, etc, was promulgated on March 29, 2000. This article summarizes the content and the background of the cabinet order by referring to the recommendations made by the Central Environment Council and two other Councils in February 2000.

Key words: PRTR MSDS, chemical substances, criteria for products, businesses subject to PRTR reporting