FCM services
The safety of food contact materials is regulated by Food Sanitation Act. The Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) published the notifications to amend Food Sanitation Act in April 2020, which became effective on 1 June 2020. The amendments contain the positive list for synthetic resins in food contact materials. Only substances listed on the positive list are allowed to be used in manufacturing of plastic food contact materials. During a 5-year transitional period, plastic food contact materials, that are not complying with the positive list but that were manufactured or imported for sale before 1 June 2020, may continue to be manufactured or imported for safe until 31 May 2025 if the composition is not changed.
In addition to the national regulation, the well-established voluntary standards of the industries associations such as Japan Hygienic Olefin and Styrene Plastics Association (JHOSPA), Japan Hygienic PVC Association (JHPA) and Japan Hygienic Association of Poly Vinylidene Chlorid (JHAVDC) have contributed significantly the safety of food contact materials.
The Food Contact Material Safety Center was established within the Japan Chemical Innovation and Inspection Institute (JCII) to drive forward the smooth and efficient operation of management of food contact materials, taking charge in the coordination between the government and the private sector. The businesses of the above mentioned industries associations were transferred to JCII Safety Center. The JCII Safety Center started to accept applications for a food contact material compliance certificate on 1 April 2021. This voluntary certification of JCII can be used to show the compliance as required by Food Sanitation Act (article 50 (4))
Any companies, organizations and individuals are required to hold and maintain the membership to be eligible for the services offered by JCII Safety Center. The JCII Safety Center membership requires foreign companies to have a branch in Japan or a Japan-based liaison as an agency.
Media Services, Ltd. has provided the JHOSPA related services such as supporting the membership registration, acting as a liaison with registering one of our directors as the client authorized contact for JHOSPA, preparing and submitting the certificate application and arranging the testing if required.
The services we offer under the new scheme include but not limited to the JCII membership registration support in the capacity of a Japan-based liaison as an agency, the certificate application and the testing, as well as the consulting services.
