JAPAN CSCL REGULATORY UPDATE
Japan has published its fiscal year 2027 application schedules for small-volume and low-volume new chemical substances under the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL). Issued jointly on October 16, 2026, by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), the notices set out seven SVE filing rounds and ten LVE filing rounds.
The first SVE window opens on January 15, 2027, followed by the first LVE window on February 10, 2027. Overseas chemical suppliers and Japanese manufacturers and importers should select an eligible filing round and allow time to obtain confirmation before manufacture or import under these routes.
Electronic applicants also need a supported G Biz ID account and the prescribed application software. The LVE schedule includes a restricted August round that is not available to all applicants.
What the FY2027 Schedules Cover
The notices cover applications for manufacture/import confirmation under the Small Volume Exemption (SVE) and Low Volume Exemption (LVE) systems.
The LVE dates below concern annual quantity confirmation after the substance has received the relevant determination notification. They should not be treated as the schedule for the preceding new-substance review. A project that has not yet completed that review needs a separate timetable for that stage.
Japan's fiscal year 2027 runs from April 1, 2027, to March 31, 2028. Annual SVE and LVE confirmations do not automatically carry over into the next fiscal year. Businesses continuing manufacture or import from April 1, 2027, need to arrange the applicable FY2027 confirmation.
Before selecting a window, suppliers should align substance information, intended uses and planned quantities with the Japanese manufacturer or importer. Where the appropriate procedure is uncertain, REACH24H's Japan CSCL compliance services can support substance-status and route assessment.
SectionSVE Filing Windows for FY2027
The official SVE notice provides different deadlines according to the submission method. Rounds 2, 3, 5 and 6 accept electronic applications only. Unless otherwise indicated, all dates below fall in 2027.
| Round | Electronic submission | Optical-disc or paper submission | Expected receipt of decision notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 15–28 | January 15–22 | By March 29 |
| 2 | April 1–14 | Not accepted | Around May 25 |
| 3 | June 1–14 | Not accepted | Around July 16 |
| 4 | July 1–14 | July 1–9 | Around August 27 |
| 5 | September 1–14 | Not accepted | Around October 25 |
| 6 | October 20–November 1 | Not accepted | Around December 8 |
| 7 | November 22–December 3 | November 22–29 | Around January 19, 2028 |
For Round 1, the authorities recommend submitting electronic applications by January 22 where possible, although the electronic filing window closes on January 28.
The dates in the final column are expected arrival dates for confirmation or non-confirmation notices, not guaranteed approval dates. Applicants should account for the interval between submission and receipt when planning production or imports.
SectionLVE Filing Windows for FY2027
The official LVE notice sets out the following annual confirmation windows. Round 1 has different deadlines for electronic and mailed applications. Unless otherwise indicated, all dates below fall in 2027.
| Round | Electronic submission | Optical-disc or paper submission |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 10–18 | February 10–16 |
| 2 | April 15–21 | April 15–21 |
| 3 | May 19–25 | May 19–25 |
| 4 | June 18–24 | June 18–24 |
| 5 | July 16–23 | July 16–23 |
| 6 | Not accepted | August 26–31 Restricted paper applications only* |
| 7 | October 15–21 | October 15–21 |
| 8 | November 12–18 | November 12–18 |
| 9 | December 17–23 | December 17–23 |
| 10 | January 21–27, 2028 | January 21–27, 2028 |
*Round 6 is limited to confirmation applications associated with new-substance notifications submitted under Article 3(1) of CSCL on July 8, 2027. Only paper applications are accepted for this round.
A further procedural condition applies when an applicant seeks LVE confirmation in the same month it receives the substance's determination notification: the notice specifies paper submission in principle, without requiring submission of the determination notice itself.
LVE confirmation notices are expected to be dispatched approximately one month after the filing window closes. This is a dispatch estimate, rather than an expected delivery date.
SectionConfirmation Timing for Production and Imports
For both systems, manufacture or import may generally begin only after the applicant receives the confirmation notice. For Round 1, manufacture or import under the FY2027 confirmation must not begin before April 1, 2027, even if the notice arrives earlier.
REACH24H recommends keeping the filing deadline, expected notice timing and intended production or import date as separate milestones in the project schedule. Businesses planning supply at the start of the fiscal year should work backwards from both the application deadline and the permitted start date.
SectionG Biz ID and Application Software Requirements
The notices confirm that electronic submissions require G Biz ID, Japan's government business authentication system. The former applicant-code system has been discontinued, and new code issuance or amendments are no longer accepted.
Applicants should check the following before their selected window opens:
Account type: Only G Biz ID Prime and G Biz ID Member accounts are supported for these procedures.
Account setup: An existing Prime account holder can create Member accounts under its authority. Obtaining a new Prime account requires Digital Agency review and is not guaranteed to be completed on the same day.
Application software: The notices specify version 7.03 and state that files prepared using version 7.02 or earlier will not be accepted. The SVE notice expressly applies this requirement to electronic and optical-disc submissions; the LVE notice specifies it for electronic submissions.
Submission buffer: The authorities recommend completing electronic submission one to two days before the deadline to reduce the risk of communication problems preventing acceptance.
Where mailed applications are permitted, applicants should use registered or simplified registered mail and send them within the applicable filing period. A postmark dated on the closing day is valid. Applications should not be sent before the window opens.
Plan Your FY2027 Japan CSCL Applications with REACH24H
REACH24H supports overseas chemical suppliers and Japanese manufacturers and importers in preparing for Japan CSCL obligations. For FY2027 SVE and LVE planning, support can include:
Substance-status and route assessment: Review whether a substance is new under CSCL and assess the applicability of SVE, LVE or another procedure.
Application preparation and review: Organize substance information, application materials and supporting technical documentation.
Filing and account preparation: Help plan eligible submission rounds around business needs and provide guidance on G Biz ID Prime and Member requirements.
CSCL compliance advice: Identify issues affecting annual confirmation and subsequent manufacture/import management.
Prepare Your FY2027 Japan CSCL Filing Plan
To discuss your FY2027 application plan, share your substance list, intended uses, planned quantities, target production or import dates, and any existing determination or confirmation notices.
Recommended Reading
FY2026 SVE and LVE Filing Windows and G Biz ID Transition — for applications relating to fiscal year 2026.
Official References
FY2027 SVE manufacture/import application schedule — joint ministry notice, October 16, 2026 (Japanese).
FY2027 LVE manufacture/import application schedule — joint ministry notice, October 16, 2026 (Japanese).
