Police Raid Ishihara Sangyo Over Toxic Gas Production

Tsu, Mie Pref., June 2 (Jiji Press)–Police on Monday raided Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha Ltd. on suspicion that the Japanese chemical maker violated a law banning chemical weapons by making a toxic gas without taking legally required steps.

In response to a criminal complaint filed Friday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mie Prefecture’s police searched the firm’s Yokkaichi plant in the western Japan prefecture and head office in the western Japan city of Osaka.

The Yokkaichi plant produced 170 tons of phosgene, a toxic gas which can be used to make chemical weapons, between February 2005 and October 2006 without making necessary reports to the authorities.

Phosgene is designated as a hazardous substance under the law against chemical weapons. Phosgene makers with an annual output of 30 tons or more are required to report production plans and actual output.

The latest problem, disclosed by Ishihara Sangyo itself last month, followed a series of scandals involving the company, including illegal waste dumping practices which led to the arrests of some company officials in 2006.END

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