FY2026 3rd Expert Meeting on Chemical Management: Minutes
Overview
At the expert meeting held on July 16, 2026, concentration limit values for 30 substances were deliberated, and decisions were made for each substance regarding 8-hour or short-term concentration limit values, as well as whether values were “cannot be established” or “not established.” In addition, proposed revisions to the lists of substances subject to risk assessment, chemicals hazardous to the skin and other organs, and the carcinogenicity notification, based on the government GHS classification, were explained. The next meeting was scheduled for August 7 to deliberate concentration limit values and measurement methods.
Key points
- Concentration limit values for 30 substances were deliberated, and the treatment of each substance was decided.
- Proposed revisions to three lists of substances covered by systems based on the government GHS classification were explained.
- The meeting was held publicly, and the minutes were scheduled to be published after confirmation.
- The next meeting is scheduled for August 7, and measurement methods will also be deliberated.
Overview
The 3rd FY2026 Expert Study Meeting on Chemical Management was convened by the Chemical Substances Control Division of the Occupational Safety and Health Department, Labour Standards Bureau, with consideration of concentration limit values and other matters on the agenda.
Agenda item 1 examined 30 substances from this fiscal year’s target list and confirmed the proposed concentration limit values for each substance. Agenda item 2 presented proposed changes to substances covered by the systems based on the FY2025 government GHS classification.
Impact
The meeting was open to the public, and audio was to be streamed online for general observers. The minutes were scheduled to be published at a later date after confirmation by the members.
The next meeting is scheduled for August 7 from 14:00 to 17:00 and will deliberate measurement methods in addition to concentration limit values.
Details
The review proposed 8-hour or short-term concentration limit values based on materials and literature from preliminary or detailed investigations. The 8-hour values for magnesium stearate and germane were designated “cannot be established,” while lead azide was designated “not established.”
For heptachlor and related substances, precautions concerning prevention of dermal exposure were indicated; for divinylbenzene and related substances, precautions concerning reproductive and developmental toxicity were indicated; and for tetrahydromethyl phthalic anhydride, precautions concerning sensitization were indicated. The notation and evaluation grounds in the materials were to be revised and recalculated.
The proposed system revisions indicated a total of 70 substances, including 36 newly added substances, for substances subject to risk assessment and related categories; 27 newly added substances for chemicals hazardous to the skin and other organs; and 14 newly added substances for the carcinogenicity notification.