Concerning Testing Methods Required for Listing on the PLApril 2000 (1st Edition)
May 2017 (Revised)
June 2018 (Revised)
September 2018 (Revised)
December 2019 (Revised)
March 2020 (Revised)
June 2021 (Revised)
October 2022 (Revised)Japan BioPlastics Association

Introduction
This document explains the testing methods required for listing on the PL in relation to the Biodegradable Plastics
Positive List (PL) Formulation Standards and the BiomassPla Positive List (PL) Formulation Standards
prescribed by the Identification Committee of the Japan BioPlastics Association (hereafter referred to as theJBPA).

1. General Provisions(1) The substances here are components (materials) that are used or are due to be used in Biodegradable Plastics
and BiomassPla.
(2) When requesting the addition of a substance to the PL, in addition to the application form indicated in the PL
Formulation Standards, applicants must submit to the Chairman of the JBPA Identification Committee the test
reports listed below or other relevant documents that are deemed necessary by this Committee.
(3) The test reports listed below must clearly set forth the results of tests conducted by testing institutions
approved and registered by the JBPA (listed below) or the results of tests or testing methods certified byassessors approved by the JBPA (listed below). The applicant shall take full responsibility for the content ofthe test report.
(4) The applicant shall bear all costs arising from the testing. If there are any queries regarding the content of thetest or the method of carrying out the test, applicants can refer these to the Identification Committee in orderto obtain further guidance.

12. Biodegradability Tests
The biodegradability testing methods prescribed by this Committee are as follows. The most up-to-date list of
testing methods shall be used.
(1) OECD 301C (Modified MITI Test – Ready Biodegradability):
Chemical substances: Aerobic biodegradability testing method using activated sludge(Note) Testing period: 28 days
(2) JIS K 6950 (ISO 14851)
Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium(Method by measuring the oxygen demand in a closed respirometer)(Note) Testing period: Within 6 months(3) JIS K 6951 (ISO 14852)
Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium(Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide)(Note) Testing period: Within 6 months(4) JIS K 6955 (ISO 17556)
Plastics – Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability in soil by measuring the oxygen
demand in a respirometer or the amount of carbon dioxide evolved(Note) Testing period: Within 6 months(5) JIS K 6953 (ISO 14855)
Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability and disintegration of plastic materials undercontrolled composting conditions(Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide)
Part1:General Method(Note) Testing period: Within 6 months(6) ISO 14855-2
Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled
composting conditions(Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide)
Part2:Gravimetric measurement of carbon dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test)(Note) Testing period: Within 6 months

Please refer to the relevant standard for the details of each of the abovementioned tests.

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3. Oral Acute Toxicity Tests
The oral acute toxicity testing methods prescribed by this Committee are as follows. The most up-to-date list oftesting methods shall be used.
(1) OECD Test Guideline 420
Acute Oral Toxicity－Fixed Dose Procedure(2) OECD Test Guideline 423
Acute Oral Toxicity－Acute Toxic Class Method(3) OECD Test Guideline 425
Acute Oral Toxicity－Up-And-Down Procedure
Note: It is also permissible to use only limit confirmation tests that indicate that the LD50 is in excess of
2,000mg/kg.

4.

Environmental Safety Tests

The environmental safety tests prescribed by this Committee are as follows. The newest issue of the Test
guidelines should be adopted for registering new materials to the Positive List.
①

Freshwater Alga and Cyanobacteria, Growth Inhibition Test: OECD Test Guidelines 201

・This determines the impact on the growth of unicellular green algae of chemical substances under test conditions②Daphnia sp. acute immobilisation test : OECD Test Guidelines 202

・ This determines the impact on Daphnia species of chemical substances under test conditions③

Fish, Acute Toxicity Test: OECD Test Guidelines 203

・This determines the 50% lethal dosage of the substance being tested in fish under test conditions.
For further details concerning the tests, refer to OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals.
[Reference: Explanation of Terms]
LD50: 50％ lethal doseThis is an indicator of the acute toxicity of a chemical substance and refers to the quantity administered that is
estimated to result in the death of half (50%) of the animals to which it is administered; it is also referred to as
the half lethal dose or 50% lethal dose.
Generally, the dose is set on the basis of a particular proportion and each dosage is administered to around 10
animals, with the death rate being measured and the LD50 being calculated from the results of this.
The distinction between toxic substances, deleterious substances and normal substances in Japan isdetermined in accordance with the LD50 value obtained from tests on mice (The foregoing is quoted from thesecond edition of the Tokyo Kagaku-Dojinsha Dictionary of Biochemistry).
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Environmental Risk Evaluation:
Acute toxicity tests are conducted using freshwater organisms.
Normally, three types of test are conducted: alga growth inhibition tests, Daphnia acute immobilization tests,
and fish acute toxicity tests.
In general, green algae are used for the alga tests, Daphnia magna are used for the Daphnia tests, and orange
Oryzias latipes are used for the fish tests; toxicity in alga and Daphnia is evaluated on the basis of EC50, while
toxicity in fish is evaluated on the basis of LC50.
EC50: Median Effective Concentration
This is the concentration of the substance being tested at which it is estimated that the impact will emerge in
50% of the test organisms, compared with the control group, that is to say the test organisms that are notexposed to the substance.
Where the test organisms are algae, this is the concentration at which the cell density is reduced by half after
72 hours.
LC50: Median Lethal Concentration
This is the concentration of the substance being tested at which it is estimated that 50% of the test organisms, suchas fish, will die.
(The foregoing is quoted from the Ministry of the Environment website, section relating to businesses testing theecological effects of chemical substances)5.

Degradability Tests
Degradability tests in the process of composting BiodegaradalePla products shall be conducted using one of
the following testing methods.
1． ISO 16929 “Plastics -- Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials under definedcomposting conditions in a pilot-scale test”(Remarks: Tests using compost vessels with a capacity of at least 140 liters)(Remarks: Tests using compost vessels with a capacity of 2-5 liters)
2． ISO20200 “Plastics -- Determination of the degree of disintegration of plastic materials under simulated
composting conditions in a laboratory-scale test”(Remarks: Tests using compost vessels with a capacity of 5-20 liters)

６．Reproduction Inhibition Tests(1) These shall be conducted on the basis of OECD Chemical Guideline 208. However, with regard to plant
species, at least two species from two of the three categories given in OECD 208 shall be used.
(2) ISO 11269-2: Soil quality — Determination of the effects of pollutants on soil flora — Part 2: Effects ofcontaminated soil on the emergence and early growth of higher plants

4７．Biomass Carbon Measurement Tests
ASTM D6866 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Natural Range Materials Using
Radiocarbon and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Analysis
Using the Testing Method for Determining the Biobase Rate of Materials in the Natural Domain Using
Radioactive Carbon and Isotope Ratio Gravimetric Analysis.

5Concerning Testing Results and Testing Institutions
Normal chemical analysis, biodegradability tests, oral acute toxicity tests and environmental safety tests shallconform to the following test results or be conducted by the following testing institutions.
(Accredited Test Results)①

Test results recognized in the Law Concerning the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of
Their Manufacture, etc. (1973 Law No.117; abbreviated to “Chemical Substances Control Law”)②

Test results prescribed by this Committee or accredited by assessors recognized by this Committee③

Test results from a testing institution accredited by the BPI (International Biodegradable Products Institute;headquarters: New York), DIN Certco (headquarters: Berlin), and BMG (Biodegradable Materials Group;
headquarters: Beijing)(Accredited Testing Institutions)④

GLP-certified testing institutions in relation to the Chemical Substances Control Law⑤

Testing institutions prescribed by this Committee or accredited by assessors recognized by this Committee⑥

Testing institutions accredited by the BPI in the USA, DIN Certco in Germany, or BMG in China

Note 1:The latest information concerning the abovementioned assessors and testing institutions will be published on thisCommittee’s website.
Note 2:As of June 13, 2006, the following testing institutions have been accredited:■JBPA – 1:
Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute, JapanTokyo Laboratory
1600 Shimotakano, Sugito-machi, Kitakatsushika-gun, Saitama 345-0043, Japan
Tel: 0480-37-2601

Fax: 0480-37-2521

Focus: General chemical analysis
Biodegradability tests (OECD 301C, JIS K 6950, 6951, 6953)
Oral acute toxicity tests and environmental safety tests■JBPA – 2:
Japan Food Research Laboratories
Chitose Laboratory〒066-0052 2－3 Bunkyo, Chitose-city, Hokkaido, Japan
TEL.0123-28-5911 FAX.0123-28-5921
Focus: General chemical analysis
Oral acute toxicity tests
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■JBPA – 3:
Organic Waste Systems n.v.
4, Dok Noord, 9000 GENT, Belgien
Tel: Bel-00 32 92 33 02 04

Fax: Bel-00 32 92 33 28 25

Focus: General chemical analysis
Biodegradability tests (ISO 14851, 14852, 14855)
Degradability Tests（ISO 16929, ASTM D 5338）
Reproduction Inhibition Tests（OECD208）
Note: Japanese agent
DJK International Inc.
Hakua Building, 2-4-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan
Tel: 03-3585-8131

Fax: 03-3588-1830■JBPA – 4:
Morinomiya Center, Osaka Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology
1-6-50 Morinomiya, Joto-Ku, Osaka 536-8553, Japan
Tel: 06-6963-8065

Fax: 06-6963-8079

Focus: General chemical analysis
Biodegradability tests (OECD 301C, JIS K 6950)■JBPA – 5:Institute of Accelerator Analysis Ltd.
129-1 Shinmachi, Noborito, Tama-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa 214-0013, Japan
Tel: 044-934-0020

Fax: 044-931-5812

Focus: Radiocarbon measurement■JBPA – 6:
Beta Analytic, Inc4985 S.W. 74th Court
Miami, FL, USA 33155
Tel: (01) 305-667-5167
Focus: Radiocarbon measurement
Note: Japanese agent
Chikyu Kagaku Kenkyusho
1-608 Uedahonmachi, Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi, 468-0007, Japan
Tel: 052-802-0703■JBPA－７：
RHOMBIC CORPORATION
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1000､Kawajiri-cho,Yokkaichi, Mie 510-0871
Tel：059-345-7622 Fax：059-345-7174
Focus：Biodegradability test JIS K6953-2 (ISO 14855-2)■BPI – 1:
Advanced Materials Center, Inc
125 Swanson Street, Ottawa, IL 61350-5114, US
Tel: USA-815-422-1495

FAX: USA-815-433-1795■BPI – 2:
Organic Waste Systems
3155 Research Bvd, Suite 104, Dayton, OH 45420, US
Tel: USA-937-253-6888

FAX: USA-937-253-3455

EMAIL: rtillinger@worldnet.att.net■DIN Certco – 1:
Dr. U. Noack-Laboratorium für angewandte Biologie
Käthe-Paulus-Straße 1, 31157 Sarstedt, Germany
Tel: Ger-0 50 66/70 67-0

Fax: Ger-0 50 66/70 67 89

E-Mail: info@noack-lab.de

Web: www.noack-lab.de■DIN Certco – 2:
Fraunhofer-Institut für Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung
Giggenhauser Straße 35, 85354 Freising, Germany
Tel: Ger-0 81 61 49 10

Fax: Ger-0 81 61 49 14 91■DIN Certco – 3:
Fraunhofer-Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheits-, Energietechnik UMSICHT Lab.
Osterfelder Straße 3, 46047 Oberhausen, Germany
Tel: Ger-02 08/85 98-0

Fax: Ger-02 08/85 98-12 90

E-Mail: ute.merrettig-bruns@umsicht.fhg.de■DIN Certco – 4:
Ingenieurgesellschaft für Umweltplanung mbH Geschäftsbereich PlanCoTec
Karlsbrunnenstraße 11, 37249 Neu-Eichenberg, Germany
Tel: Ger-0 55 42/93 19-30

Fax: Ger-0 55 42/93 19-79E-Mail：plancotec@plancotec.de8

■DIN Certco – 5:
ISEGA - Forschungs- und Untersuchungs-Gesellschaft mbH
Zeppelinstraße 3-5, 63741 Aschaffenburg, Germany
Tel: Ger-0 60 21/49 89-0
E-Mail: isega@t-online.de

Fax: Ger-0 60 21/49 89-30
Web: www.isega.de■DIN Certco – 6:
Materialforschungs- und Prüfanstalt an der Bauhaus-UniversitätWeimar
Fachgebiet Umwelt
Amalienstraße 13, 99423Weimar, Germany
Tel: Ger-0 36 43/5 64-0

Fax: Ger-0 36 43/5 64-2 01

Fax: Ger-0 36 43/5 64-2 02■DIN Certco – 7:OrganicWaste Systems n.v.
4, Dok Noord, 9000 GENT, BELGIUIM
Tel: Bel-00 32 92 33 02 04

Fax: Bel-00 32 92 33 28 25

E-Mail: mail@ows.be■DIN Certco – 8:
Universität GH Essen
Fachbereich 10，Bauwesen/Abfallwirtschaft Universitätsstraße 15, 45141 Essen, Germany■BGM-―１：
China National Centre for Quality Supervision & Test of Plastics Products
100048 11Fucheng Road, Beijing, China
Tel:010-68983956 68985371 E-Mail: ntsqp@ntsqp.org.cn

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