[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/Japan J-Moss JapanChemicals # Japan J-Moss: Hazardous Substance Marking for Electronics Under JIS C 0950 Japan's J-Moss standard (JIS C 0950) requires manufacturers to disclose the presence of six hazardous substances in electronics and apply a green or orange mark accordingly. Unlike EU RoHS, J-Moss does not prohibit substances above threshold — it requires transparent disclosure. If you are already RoHS-compliant, J-Moss adds minimal overhead. If you are not, understanding the orange-mark route keeps your Japan market access intact. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fjapan-j-moss-hazardous-substances) At a glance Standard JIS C 0950 Mark Green (compliant) or Orange (contains listed substances) Substances 6 (same as RoHS) Scope Specified electronic product categories ## J-Moss framework: substances, marks, and disclosure ### J-Moss scope and the six regulated substances JIS C 0950 applies to specific categories of home electrical appliances and IT equipment sold in Japan. The six regulated substances are identical to EU RoHS: lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (Cr VI), polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). The threshold values also mirror EU RoHS — 0.1% by weight of homogeneous material for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, and PBDE; 0.01% for cadmium. This alignment means RoHS analytical data can typically be reused directly. ### Green mark vs orange mark — the disclosure decision Products in which none of the six substances are present above the threshold values in any homogeneous material display the J-Moss green mark. Products containing one or more substances above threshold in any homogeneous material display the orange mark, alongside a substances content table identifying which substances are present and in which components. The green mark signals full J-Moss compliance; the orange mark signals transparent disclosure — both are legally valid, and the orange route is not a failure state. ### Substances content table (含有マーク) for orange-marked products Products carrying the orange mark must publish a substances content table (含有物質表) that identifies each major component, lists the six substances, and indicates whether each substance is present above the threshold. This table is typically published on the manufacturer's Japanese-language product web page rather than printed on the product itself. The table must be accessible throughout the product's commercial life in Japan and remain findable after the product is discontinued. ### J-Moss is a disclosure standard — not a prohibition This is the most important distinction from EU RoHS. EU RoHS prohibits placing products containing restricted substances above threshold on the market (with limited exemptions). J-Moss imposes no prohibition — it requires disclosure and marking. A product containing lead above the threshold can be sold in Japan legally, provided it carries the orange mark and the content table is published. Manufacturers who already comply with EU RoHS will typically qualify for the green J-Moss mark without additional work. ## J-Moss compliance process step by step 01 Confirm that your product falls within J-Moss scope by checking the JIS C 0950 product category schedule. Applicable categories include personal computers and their peripherals, displays, printers, mobile phones and smartphones, handheld game consoles, televisions, washing machines, room air conditioners, and refrigerators. Products outside these categories are not subject to J-Moss even if they contain electronics. 02 Conduct a substance content assessment for the six regulated substances across all homogeneous materials in the product. If you already have a full RoHS compliance assessment — analytical test reports and material declarations from your supply chain — this data can be used directly for J-Moss. The same thresholds and homogeneous material definition apply. 03 Determine the appropriate mark based on the assessment outcome. If all six substances are below threshold in every homogeneous material, prepare to apply the green J-Moss mark. If any substance exceeds threshold in any material, prepare to apply the orange mark and proceed to the content table step. 04 For orange-marked products: prepare the substances content table in Japanese (含有物質表). The table lists each component-level substance presence above threshold. Publish the table on the product's Japanese-language web page before the product goes on sale in Japan. Retain the table and update it if the product's material composition changes. 05 Apply the appropriate J-Moss mark to the product or its packaging. The mark design, colour specifications, and minimum size requirements are defined in JIS C 0950. Use only the officially specified mark artwork — do not modify the mark proportions, colours, or add surrounding elements. Retain documentation supporting your mark selection as part of your product compliance file. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is J-Moss legally mandatory in Japan? J-Moss (JIS C 0950) is a Japanese Industrial Standard, not a statute. It was developed under Japan's Act for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources (3R Law) framework and industry agreement rather than enacted as a standalone legal mandate. In practice, major Japanese retailers and distributors expect J-Moss marking for in-scope product categories, and non-compliance creates a de facto market access barrier. Government enforcement of J-Moss as a legal requirement is limited, but the reputational and commercial risk of non-compliance for products sold through established Japanese retail channels is significant. ### How does J-Moss relate to EU RoHS compliance? J-Moss and EU RoHS share the same six restricted substances and the same threshold values, which means the analytical data and supply chain material declarations used for RoHS conformity assessment can typically be reused for J-Moss without additional testing. A product that fully complies with EU RoHS — containing no restricted substance above threshold — will qualify for the green J-Moss mark. A product using RoHS exemptions (where a substance is permitted above threshold under a listed exemption) may still need the orange J-Moss mark if that substance exceeds the J-Moss threshold, since J-Moss does not have an equivalent exemption system. ### Which electronics product categories require J-Moss marking? JIS C 0950 applies to: personal computers (desktops, laptops, tablets), monitors and displays, printers, mobile phones and smartphones, portable audio and game devices, televisions, washing machines, room air conditioners, and refrigerators. Industrial equipment, medical devices, and most B2B electronics are outside J-Moss scope. If your product category is not on the JIS C 0950 schedule, J-Moss marking is neither required nor appropriate — applying the mark to an out-of-scope product would be misleading. ### Can the substances content table be in English? The substances content table for orange-marked products is expected to be published in Japanese for products sold in Japan. The JIS C 0950 standard and the surrounding regulatory context assume Japanese-language disclosure accessible to Japanese consumers and enforcement authorities. Publishing an English-only table does not fulfil the disclosure intent of J-Moss. Bilingual tables (Japanese and English) are common for global products and are generally accepted. Machine-translated Japanese requires careful review — accuracy of technical chemical substance names is critical. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. Regulatory requirements change and vary by product category. 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