Introduction of Flame Retardant
Chemicals Association of Japan (FRC-J)
and Japanese perspective ofEnvironmentally Friendly (Green)
Flame Retardants
Shigeru Matsumi
Executive Director-International Liaison, FRC-J
President of Chemtura Japan Limited
October 9, 2007
Grand Hyatt Hotel, San Francisco
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Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,
Shigeru Matsumi is my name. I am an Executive Director of FRC-J in chargeof International Liaison. I am from Chemtura Japan. It’s my great pleasure
to be here and on behalf of FRC-J, I would like to say “Thank you all AFSC
executives for your invitation to this symposium”.
The first part of my presentation describes the organization of Flame
Retardant chemicals Association of Japan (FRC-J), a part of METI (Ministryof Economy Trade & Industry) supported industry organization of flameretardant.
The second part presents the Japanese perspective of environmentallyfriendly (Green) flame retardants, in the categories of brominated,phosphorous and antimony trioxide.

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Flame Retardant Chemicals
Association of Japan (FRC-J)
1.

Introduction- FR Manufacturers, importers, distributors and users- Liaised with METI, JCIA, AFSC,EFRA and CSFR

2.

History of FRCFRC-J- Japan Plastics Council in 1974
- Japan Flame Retardants Council in 1979
- Flame Retardant Chemicals Association of Japan in 1996

3.

Updated FRCFRC-J- Operating structure- Officers list in 2007
2Let me introduce FRC-J. FRC-J is an independent organization made up offlame retardant manufacturers, importers, distributors and users. It is
located in Tokyo and one of members of the Japan Chemical Industry
Association (JCIA) and being liaised globally with the American Fire Safety
Council (AFSC), European Flame Retardants Association (EFRA) and theChinese Society of Flame Retardants (CSFR).
History of FRC-J
FRC-J was born out of the Japan Plastics Council in 1974 and changed its
name to Japan Flame Retardants Council in 1979. It then became the Flame
Retardant Chemicals Association of Japan in 1996 in order to meet thewider challenges of Japan’s many industrial sectors.

22007 FRC-J Organization
OPERATING STRUCTURE
General Assembly
President, Vice-president

AuditorSecretary(Committees)
Executive
Committee

Technical

Environmental

Committee

Committee

Risk Management(Working groups)

Halogen Working
GroupOECD Committee

Phosphorous
WorkingGroup

Committee

Inorganic
WorkingGroupInternational
LiaisonCommittee

Distributors
WorkingGroup

AssociateMembers

3This slide shows 2007 FRC-J operating structure of the organization leadby President Yamanaka, from Daihachi Chemical Industry, Vice President
Otsuka, from Marubishi Oil Chemicals and Mr. Yasui, Secretary General.
There are General Assembly, Executive Committee, four types of functional
committees, another four types of working groups and associate members.

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OFFICERS LIST IN 2007
Title

Name

Company

PRESIDENT

Hiroshi YAMANAKADAIHACHI CHEM.IND.CO.,LTED.

VICE PRESIDENT

Minoru OTSUKA

MARUBISHI OIL CHEMICAL CO.,LTD.

AUDITOR

Nobuo SHIBAHARANAGASE & CO.,LTD.

【DIRECTOR】
CHAIRMAN, Technical Com.

Enichirou OCHIAISUZUHIRO CHEM.,CO.,LTD.

CHAIRMAN, Environmental Com.
& OECD Com.

Hirofumi
KAMIBAYASHIYAMATOSOH CORPORATION

Chairman, Risk Manag. Com.

Akihide KITAMURA

MANAC INCORPORATED.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,Shigeru MATSUMICHEMTURA JAPAN LTD.

CHIEF, Halogen Group

Hideji ASADASAKAMOTO YAKUHINKOUGYOU CO.,LTD.

CHIEF, Phosphorous Group

Nobutaka MIYANODAIHACHI CHEM.IND.CO.,LTD.

CHIEF, Inorganic Group

Yoshiyuki MASUMORINIHON SEIKO CO.,LTD.

CHIEF, Dealer Group

Yasushi IWATASANYO TRADING CO.,LTD.

International Liaison【SECRETARY】
SECRETARY

Toshiyuki YASUIE-mail : info@frcj.jp URL : http://www.frcj.jp

42007 officers list is here:

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FRC-J Organization Structure¾ General Assembly¾ Executive Committee¾ Four types of Committees¾ Four types of Working Groups¾ Associate Members

5General Assembly
The general Assembly meets once a year in May, reviews the work of all
FRC-J committees, ratifies their work, describes on FRC-J membership andapproves their budget, activity plans and all financial decisions. It is
composed of all members (Full and Associate).

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Executive Committee¾ Steering/Prioritization of efforts

and funds¾ Finance¾ Internal Liaison¾ Liaison with AFSC, EFRA, CSFR
¾ Liaison with METI, JCIA, BSEF-J,Pfric-J
IAOIA, relevant organizations¾ Recruitment of New Members
6Executive Committee
The Executive Committee coordinates all FRC-J activities. Its principle
duties are as follows:-Steering and Prioritization of efforts and funds-Finance-Internal liaison-Liaison with AFSC, EFRA and CSFR
-Liaison with METI, JCIA, BSEF, Pfric, IAOIA and relevant organizations-Recruitment of new menebrs

6Environmental Committee¾ Japan national activities for FR

chemical toxicity issues andregulations¾ Preparation for European REACHintroduction¾ Activities of OECD
¾ UN, WHO, IPCS, EHC¾ Other HSE issues

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There are four functional committees in the organization and:Environmental Committee
The Environmental Committee deals with the health, chemical safety andenvironmental concerns/issues in Japan. These include:-Japan national activities for FR chemical toxicity issues and regulations-Preparation for European REACH introduction-Activities of Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD) in the flame retardant area
-The United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO), International
Program on Chemical Safety (IPCS) and environmental health criteria (EHC)
series of reports in flame retardant area
-Other HSE Issues in Japan and worldwide like GHS and correspondence
to NGO and relevant industry groups.

7General committees¾ Technical Committee- JIS Standards- Industry Fire Safety Issues- Technical Seminars- Plastics Wastes Treatment Association¾ Risk Management Committee- METI, BSEFBSEF-J and PfricPfric-J- VECAP program¾ International Liaison Committee- AFSC, EFRA and CSFR

8General functional committees
First, Technical Committee is in charge of JIS standards, industry fire
safety issues, conducting technical seminars with BSEF-J, liaison withPlastics Waste Treatment Association, and other technical orientedassociations. In particular, it is in charge of planning and execution of FR
technical seminars once or twice a year.
Risk Management Committee
This committee has recently been formed to correspond with the HBCD
issues and is making a close liaison with METI, BSEF-Japan and otherstakeholders. It is also involved in promoting VECAP activities being
initiated in EU. It is to be described in 2nd part of my presentation.
International Liaison Committee
It has been coordinating with AFSC, EFRA and CSFR to exchange relevant
FR information and update for all members.

8Working Groups¾ Halogen Working Group¾ Phosphorous Working Group¾ Inorganic Working Group¾ Distributors Working Group

9Also, there are four working groups in the organization:
Halogen working group
Phosphorous working group
Inorganic working group
Distributors working group

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FRC-J Objectives¾ To conduct research work for updated FR legislative

actions and collect relevant information both
domestically and globally¾ To work on FR safety issues and collect relevant
information¾ To promote the advocacy work for FR¾ To liaise with Japanese governmental agencies andrelevant associations for FR¾ To liaise with testing institutions and laboratories¾ To institute environmental, toxicological and otherwork programs, as appropriate
10FRC-J Objectives:-To conduct research work for updated FR legislative actions and collectrelevant information both domestically and globally-To work on FR safety issue and collect relevant information-To promote the advocacy work for FR-To liaise with Japanese governmental agencies and relevant associations
for FR-To liaise with testing institutions and laboratories-To institute environmental, toxicological and other work programs, asappropriate

10Japanese perspective of environmentallyfriendly (Green) flame retardants
Background¾ Environmental issues and DBDPO concern inJapanese E&E industry¾ De-selection of halogenated FRs¾ Awareness of Phosphorous FRs risks in METI
¾ Potential confusion of Japanese E&E industry¾ Japanese car manufacturers’ concern on
selection of FR plastics

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Next subject here is Japanese perspective of environmentally friendly (Green) flameretardants
I would like to present firstly about the background of this perspective. Environmental
issues and concerns for Decabromodiphenyoxide surfaced in Europe over 20 years ago,and many of Japanese industries have been negatively influenced by global regulatory andnon-regulatory actions taken by governmental and non-governmental organizations. In
particular, the Japanese E&E (Electric and Electronic) OEMs are being forced to cope withthe global unification of material standards for their equipment. As a result, de-selection ofmany halogenated flame retardants has taken place without any scientific data to back up
the emotional decisions made by European groups, who have a strong preference for nonhalogens. One group of non-halogen flame retardant alternatives is those developed withphosphorous compounds. Practically, phosphate esters have become large volume flame
retardants for E&E and IT equipment housing materials.
Recently, the Japanese governmental agency, METI has been concerned about organic
phosphorous compounds in respect with potential risks to human health, such as the“House Sick Syndrome” and “Chemical substance Irritation”. It is easy to see why many
Japanese E&E OEMs could easily get confused in their selection of flame retardants forE&E equipment. In addition, we now see phosphorous containing compounds confusedwith other phosphorous containing compounds, such as those used in insecticides.
Besides, because of the increased usage of FR plastics for automotive parts, Japanese car
manufacturers are also concerned about the environmental assessment of flameretardants.

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Halogenated FR compounds
Deca-BDE¾¾

Stopped using PBB, PentaPenta-BDE and OctaOcta-BDE incompliance with EU RoHS
Have almost been away from using DecaDeca-BDE due to aconfusion about its impurity aspect of RoHS and moved toNonNon-Deca alternatives

TBBA¾Concerned about its additive applications but being
replaced with other BrBr-FRs most likely

HBCD
¾¾

Classified into “Type I Monitored chemical substance”
substance” bylaw
Japan HBCD VECAP program has just started this year

12Halogenated FR compounds
Japanese E&E OEMs have stopped using PBB, Penta-BDE and Octa-BDE based upon EU
RoHS directives, although there were no regulatory actions on those brominated FRs atthat time. In respect to Deca-BDE, most Japanese E&E OEMs have been away from using
currently commercialized Deca-BDE, as they believe there is confusion about interpretingthe EU RoHS directives in terms of Deca’s impurity aspect of 0.1%. It is said that theplastics containing Deca-BDE would contain about 3% Nona-BDE, and have more than
0.1% of impurity in E&E plastic materials. Therefore, Japanese E&E market understands
that commercial Deca-BDE is unlikely exempted from RoHS directives as yet. Some ofDeca-BDE manufacturers are likely to launch high purity Deca-BDE with assay of around
99.7% so that there should be no more questions on this issue. Yet, most Japanese E&E
OEMs have already de-selected Deca-BDE, and have moved to both brominated andphosphorous non-Deca alternatives.
Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBA) is being widely used as a reactive flame retardant forbrominated epoxy and brominated polycarbonate resins. There is no concern about TBBA
used in these applications but Japanese E&E OEMs are somewhat concerned about
TBBA’s additive applications into resins. Yet, these concerns are not realistic at this point
in time as it is being replaced primarily with other brominated compounds.
In Japan, HBCD was classified into “Type I Monitored Chemical Substance” in theChemical substance Control Law of 2004 as a result of its safety assessment. FRC-J andBSEF-Japan have been working together with the user sectors consisting of textile andpolystyrene foam industries and have just started “Japan HBCD VECAP program” to seek
the risk management programs for the future.

12Phosphorous FR compounds
1) Red phosphorous¾¾

Concerned about phosphine gas generated from burning butit deforms into nonnon-poisonous oxidized compounds
Surfaced treated ones being used in W& industry2) Phosphate esters¾¾Bisphosphates are widely used for E&E/IT equipment as nonnonhalogen alternatives
Japanese OEMs have been aware of environmental concern
on through massmass-media

Antimony Trioxide (ATO)¾

Concerned about a suspicious carcinogenicity of its powder
form but to be cleared as mastermaster-batched13

Red phosphorous:
It is generally thought that red phosphorous would produce poisonous phosphine gas
when burned. However, actually it easily deforms into non-poisonous oxidized compounds
at room temperature. Some of surfaced-treated ones are being used for wire and cableapplications practically in Japan.
Phosphate esters:
In Japan, Bisphosphates are significantly being used for housing materials of E&E and IT
equipment these days, replacing brominated compounds as non-halogen alternatives.
Recently Japanese OEMs have been made aware of the environmental questions andpotential concerns (emission into the air, VOC and neurotoxicity) of phosphorouscompounds as such relevant information is being revealed in the public through massmedia without scientific data. As a result, some of E&E and IT OEMs are now asking FRC-Jabout its risk assessment for future potential uses.
Antimony Trioxide (ATO)
Antimony Trioxide has historically been used as a synergist for halogenated FR systems.
Japanese PVC and brominated FR industries suggest using ATO to increase flame
retardant performance. It is said that ATO, in powder form, would become free from that
suspicious carcinogenicity concern if it is master-batched or compounded into polymer
systems. However, Japanese E&E OEMs are still concerned about voluntary European
initiatives, like Blue Angel and TCO, which do not allow for its use, although there are very
few satisfactory alternatives.

13Conclusion¾ FRC-J works for FR advocacy to makerelevant information available in public¾ FRC-J liaises with all parties concerned
for safety and environmental issues of FRchemical substances¾ FRC-J supports REACH introduction andcopes with globalization of E&E/IT andAuto OEMs
¾ FRC-J promotes “New Concept of GreenFRs”
14Conclusion:
FRC-J has been working intensely for the advocacy of flame retardant use
in society, and has contributed to the social understanding of FR chemicalsubstance, in order to make products safer, save lives, and to protect ourenvironment.
Fortunately or unfortunately, an environmental safety for flame retardantchemicals has been heavily verified globally so far and it brings about themost scientifically evaluated data available among various environmentallyconcerned chemicals. It is sure that such big data base helps REACH
introduction, not only in EU but also in Japan as it is said that Japanese
government would impose the similar types of chemical substance control
law within three or five years.
Japanese E&E/IT and Automotive OEMs must become more sensitive on
their REACH enforcement globally. As the demand for flame retardants
continues to increase for various polymer systems along with rapidly
increasing fire safety, all stake holders must communicate proactively andopenly about the risks and environmental concerns around Flameretardants. FRC-J has been promoting the advocacy of “EnvironmentallyFriendly (Greener) Flame Retardants” for relevant industries through thefollowing new concept:

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“New Concept of Green FRs”
¾ Scientifically proved (Persistence,Bioaccumulation and Toxicity)¾ Regulatory compliance (ChemicalSubstance Law, REACH and etc.)¾ Environmentally Friendly Image (example:High MW, Low volatility, Recycle ability,Historical data pile, Sound disposal,Energy conserved and etc.)
15“New Concept of Greener Flame Retardants”-Scientifically proved (Persistence, Bioaccumulation, Toxicity)-Regulatory compliance (Chemical Substance Control Law, REACH andetc.)-Environmentally Friendly Image (example: high MW, low volatility, recycle
ability, historical data pile, sound disposal and etc.)

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Thank you for your attention

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Thank you for your attention

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