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Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) is working on a new positive list system for regulating food-contact materials that could be enacted as early as 2018. A draft report concerning the new framework is currently open for public consultation until April 15, 2017. The report is expected to be finalized on May 25 by the 8th Committee for reviewing the regulations on food utensils, containers, and packaging. Once finalized, the report will be published on MHLW’s website.

Keller and Heckman is pleased to announce its inaugural Food Packaging Law Seminar taking place in Tokyo, Japan on November 14-15, 2017. This comprehensive course is designed for regulatory, scientific, and legal professionals to keep up-to-date on the latest food packaging law developments throughout the world.

Click here to register for the seminar.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) held a meeting on June 22, 2015, to discuss its future regulation of food-contact materials, including the introduction of a new "Positive List" system.

Japan notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) on July 16, 2012, about new proposed standards concerning the use of recycled paper in utensils and food packaging. The standards are based on a guidance document published by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) on April 27, 2012. The recycled paper guidance ("Guidelines Related to Recycled Paper in Utensils and Food Packaging") sets out basic requirements for ensuring the safety of recycled paper intended for use in utensils and food packaging.