1. Back Ground
"International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling
Systems on Ships, 2001" (hereinafter referred to as "IMO
Convention") was adopted at the International Maritime Organization
(IMO) diplomatic conference held in October, 2001.
In accordance with IMO Convention;
1) all ships shall not apply or re-apply anti-fouling paints containing
organotin compounds which act as biocides on and after January 1,
2003.
2) all ships shall not bear anti-fouling paints containing organotin
compounds which act as biocides on their hulls or external parts
or surfaces, on and after January 1, 2008. (Organo-Tin ship paints
should be re-coated by Non-Organo Tin Ship-bottom Paints after bllasting,
or be covered by sealercoats.)
3) Japanese Government ratified this Convention on July 2003. This
Convention will entry into force 12 months after 25 States representing
25% of the world's merchant shipping tonnage have ratified it.
4) With this Convention, flag states will verify ship's antifouling
system and issue "International anti-fouling system cerrificate"
based on Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or similar document submitted
by the ship-owner or the ship operator.
2. Purpose of JPMA Self-Regulatory Management Rule (JPMA voluntary
control rule)
The puropose of this Rule is to provide IMO Convention compliance
information and related information to ship owners, ship operators,
government authorities in charge and other related bodies by examining
paints manufactured/distributed by JPMA Regular members, Supporting
members or non-membership companies.
In Japan, manufacturing of TBTO is prohibited since it was defined
as "Class 1 specified chemical substances" by Law concerning
the Examination and Regulation of Manufacture etc. of Chemical Substances
(Hereinafter KASHINHO) in 1989. TPT compounds (7 substances) and
TBT compounds (13 substances) were defined as "Class 2 specified
chemical substances"in 1990, requiring report for manufacturing
/ importing of these substances, and they do not exist in Japan
since 1996. Therefore, antifouling paints for ships manufactured
in Japan may recognize as not containing organotin compound.

3. Overview
4. Structure of Self-Regulatory Management
5. Expected Effects of Voluntary Control
Once IMO Convention come into force, ship owners and ship operators
must carry "International anti-fouling system certificate"
issued by government authorities on board ships . JPMA Self-Regulatory
Management Rules are in accordance with the lead of MLIT(Ministry
of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) and METI (Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry) to ensure efficient commitment of this complex
requirement, and "The List of Anti-fouling Systems Recognized
by JPMA"is expected to be referred by Classification Society
of Shipping of various nations.
6. Schedule