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CHEMLIST:

The ENCS is the list of Existing and New Chemical Substances promulgated by the Kashin Act of Japan, which regulates chemical substances that are either manufactured or imported in Japan. CHEMLIST provides the English translation of the ENCS names together with their associated Classification Numbers. Because the Kashin Act designated the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) as the responsible agency for compiling and publishing the list, as well as being the recipient for notifications regarding changes and new substances, this list is also referred to as the "MITI List" or "MITI Inventory". For the same reason, the ENCS Classification Number is also called the "MITI Number".

When a substance is on the ENCS, 'On ENCS' is displayed in the Inventory Status (INV) field. The chemical name appears in the Chemical Name (CN) field tagged as ENCS. The ENCS Classification Number appears in the Regulatory List Number (RLN) field.

The INV ENCS subfield includes the appropriate text for the substance class to which the substance has been assigned in the Official Gazette. These classes are:

   Inorganic Compounds
   Low Molecular Chain-like Organic Compounds
   Low Molecular Carbo-monocyclic Organic Compounds
   Low Molecular Carbo-polycyclic Organic Compounds
   Low Molecular Heterocyclic Organic Compounds
   Organic High Polymers obtained by Addition Polymerization
   Organic High Polymers obtained by Polycondensation
   Chemically Modified Starches, Oils and Fats, etc.
   Compounds of Unknown Structure
   Colour Indices

Certain ENCS substances have restrictions for commercial use in Japan. These restrictions are noted in the INV ENCS subfield by one of the following statements:

   - Strictly regulated (prohibited) substance.
   - It is required to report the amount prior to the manufacture of
     the substance.
   - It is required to report the amount after the manufacture of the
     substance.

In addition, ENCS substances for which biodegradability and bioaccumulation data have been obtained will have the data category given in the JDATA field. The categories are:

   - Biodegradable substance.
   - Slightly (or not) accumulated in living things.
   - Accumulated in living things.
   - Accumulated in living things in high concentration.

The ENCS contains many generic names that represent chemical categories. To provide access to substances within these chemical categories, specific substances obtained from Japanese inventory sources have been added. "Unlisted chemical name" is shown in the INV field for these substances. The associated ENCS Number for these unlisted names has an "X" suffix attached to the number.

 For additional information on the list of Existing and New Chemical
 Substances, please contact:

 Chemical Products Safety Division
 Basic Industries Bureau
 Ministry of International Trade and Industry

 Address:  Kasumigaseki Tokyo 100
 Tel: 3-3501-0605
 Fax: 3-3580-6347