The PRTR system enables us to know what chemicals, from what kind of sources, and how much chemicals are released for each year.

The PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) is a system that (i) requires businesses handling chemical substances potentially hazardous to the environment to estimate the amounts of chemical substances released and transferred in waste, and to report the data to their local governments, and that (ii) the national government then compiles data submitted and makes the results public.

PRTR aims to establish the common background of risk communication among the government, the business operators and the public by providing data about releases of chemical substances to the environment. These data also help the business operators to manage their own amount of releases. In consequence, it can contribute to reduce the environmental risks from chemical substances.

The purpose of the PRTR system is to promote voluntary improvement of the management of chemical substances by business operators and to prevent any impediments to the preservation of the environment by taking measures for the confirmation of releases and transfers of specific chemical substances in the environment, while gaining the understanding of business operators and citizens.

• Obtainment of basic data for environmental conservation
• Determination of priorities in the administrative measures for chemical substances
• Promotion of voluntary improvement of the management of chemical substances by business operators
• Provision of information to the public and promotion of their understanding of chemical substances
• Understanding of the effect of environmental conservation measures and the improvements made by the measures