                                                                     
Revision or Legislation of the Ministerial ordinance and Notifications under the Act 
on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons 
 
                                        
January 2020 
 
Fluoride Gases Management Office, Chemical Management Policy Division, 
Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry 
 
 
1. Outline 
Under Article 12 of the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons (Law 
No. 64 of 2001; hereinafter referred to as the "Fluorocarbons Law"), the Minister of Economy, Trade 
and Industry shall establish and publicize the "Standards for Manufacturers, etc. of Designated 
Products" (hereinafter referred to as the “standards”) with regard to the reduction of the environmental 
impacts of fluorocarbons used in each products in the designated products list. It is stated in the 
Fluorocarbons Law that the standards shall be prescribed, taking into consideration the least 
environmental impacts of fluorocarbons related to the designated products. It also contains future 
prospects for technological developments with regard to reduction in the environmental impacts of 
fluorocarbons used in the designated products and other circumstances. 
The following products with heat insulation performance will be newly designated in the 
Cabinet order under the Fluorocarbons Law. In line with the enforcement of this Cabinet order, The 
“Ministerial ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry” stipulates the scope for 
manufactures or importers, who are recommended for improvements as necessary. The standards and 
labeling requirement will be stipulated in the “Notifications of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry”. 
 
<Global warming potential targets and Target fiscal years of the designated products> 
 
Designated Product category (Addition of products was 
notified in July 2019.) Global Warming 
Potential targets Target fiscal 
years 
1) Rigid polyurethane foam stock solution 
 (except for products used for housing, molding the 
following products, 2) and manufacturing the following 
products, 3).) 100 2024  
2) Heat insulating materials with rigid polyurethane 
foam  100 2024 
3)-1 Refrigerating  or freezing storage machines 
 (only products with rigid polyurethane foam for heat 
insulation and except for vending machines with 
refrigerating or freeze function) 100 2024 
3)-2 Vending machines with refrigerating or freezing 
function 
 (only products with rigid polyurethane foam  for heat 
insulation) 100 2024 
 
 
<Labeling requirement> 
  Manufacturers shall indicate on their catalog or product with regard to the amount of fluorocarbons 
in the products etc. 
  
2. Purpose 
To rationalize and reduce the use of fluorocarbons by accelerating innovation with regard to the 
reduction of the environmental impacts of fluorocarbons used in each designated products and 
promoting a shift to and dissemination of products which utilize non-fluorocarbons and have low 
global warming potential. 
 
3. The expected date of enforcement 
April 2020 (Except for labelling requirements to be enforced in October 2020).  