“On June 1 of this year, China put in force the product standard of sterilization gas. For the establishment of the standard, Air Water’s local corporation (Shanghai Air Water Medical Gas) dealing with the production and sales of sterilization gas wrote up the draft and was named on the drafter list.

The standard formulated a guidance for the mixing ratio of CO2 and ethylene oxide, specifications of container to use, testing method, how to label and notice, storage and transportation of cylinders, in connection with the gases used for sterilization of medical instruments. It was issued by the State Food and Drug Administration (corresponding to the MHLW of Japan) on December 31, 2011 and was made effective from June 1, 2013.

For formulation of the standard, Shanghai Air Water who had been asked for cooperation as the only local sterile gas manufacturer by the authority started the drafting work in 2010. It was quite exceptional that a Japanese gas company was engaged in the establishment of Chinese standard and the name of Shibata of general manager was clearly shown in the preamble of the standard.

The sterilization gas market in China is estimated to be about three times as large as the Japanese market having an approximate annual demand equivalent to 18,000 tons, and has been growing at the rate of 10% every year during these four to five years. The gas is mainly used for sterilization of the medical instruments of which more than 90% are exported. It means that the medical instruments are shipped to all over the world. The demand is now expected to expand to Chinese own sterilization of domestic medical instrument and in-hospital requirements.”