Home appliance makers will be required to indicate the environmentally harmful substances they use in five products, including air conditioners and television sets.
The requirement, aimed at promoting recycling of appliance parts, is included in an interim report by the Industrial Structure Council, an advisory panel to the industry minister, ministry officials said Tuesday.
Harmful substances that will be required to be mentioned on air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators, washing machines and personal computers as well as in their packages and instruction manuals, are expected to include lead, mercury, cadmium and indium.
To put the planned requirement into practice possibly from summer 2006, the ministry will change ordinances in the law for promoting the efficient use of resources.