On December 12, 2025, IMDS Newsletter 66 was published. This article provides a summary of the key points from Section 2, “Working Groups for IMDS Topics.”
[From IMDS Newsletter 66]
What are IMDS Working Groups?
- IMDS Working Groups are collaborative bodies established to systematically and efficiently enhance IMDS operations, data quality, and regulatory compliance frameworks. The key outcomes identified through the consolidation and refinement of various requirements serve as key foundational inputs for the IMDS Steering Committee’s1) release2) planning process. Through this process, the latest requirements of major global environmental regulations are incorporated into IMDS data entry rules and validation logic, thereby ensuring alignment with regulatory obligations. At the same time, the Working Groups aim to continuously identify and improve issues that arise during actual system operation.
1) IMDS Steering Committee: The governing body responsible for setting the strategic direction of IMDS and making final decisions.
2) Release: A system update for the purpose of functional enhancements.
Key Focus Areas of IMDS Working Groups
- Substance information is generally managed in a sequential manner as it is transmitted across multiple stages of the supply chain. However, in areas requiring rapid response—such as regulatory compliance—a dynamic reporting approach, in which updated information is immediately shared across the entire supply chain, enables a more timely and effective response. The Working Group initiatives introduced below reflect the IMDS Steering Committee’s strategic direction to reasonably address and accommodate these evolving requirements.
![[From IMDS Newsletter 66]](https://cdn.imweb.me/upload/S20230109372f1fdc06bcd/6dd2568e8964d.png)
[From IMDS Newsletter 66]
1. Working Group: Faster MDS Updates
Timely sharing of up-to-date MDS1) information across the supply chain—from raw material producers to vehicle manufacturers—remains an ongoing challenge. To simplify data flows and updates across the entire supply chain, the following approaches are currently under consideration.
1) MDS (Material Data Sheet): An IMDS data document used to record substance information.
Norms & Standards: Enable raw material manufacturers to dynamically update relevant information within material MDSs, thereby minimizing MDS rejections caused by missing information.
End of Supplier Responsibility: Clearly indicate suppliers within the system that are no longer able to update IMDS data due to business closure or similar circumstances.
Material MDS Part Number and Version Management: Review improvement options that allow information updates without generating unnecessary new versions driven by customer-specific requirements.
2. Working Group: Recycled Content
Recycled content is rapidly emerging as a key element of regulatory compliance. In particular, the EU Critical Raw Materials Act1), the Battery Regulation2), and the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation3) are expected to further increase its importance. This Working Group aims to establish a dynamic reporting framework that maintains data accuracy while minimizing delays and bottlenecks in data collection and validation processes.
1) Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA): Aims to reduce dependence on new mining activities and expand the sourcing of raw materials through recycling.
2) Battery Regulation: Legally mandates minimum recycled content for specific substances such as cobalt and lithium.
3) End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation (ELV Regulation): Legally mandates minimum recycled plastic content in vehicles.
3. Working Group: RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)
This Working Group focuses on defining business requirements for documenting compliance with the EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU)1) within MDSs. Once RoHS compliance can be documented through IMDS, electrical, electronic, and automotive manufacturers will be able to respond to customer requirements using IMDS as a single substance reporting system. It is proposed that information on RoHS-related applications2) be dynamically shared across the supply chain by leveraging the Regulation Wizard3).
1) Refer to the newsletter article [EU RoHS – Revision of Lead Exemption Provisions].
2) Application: Information describing the purpose for which a regulated substance is used or the exemption under which it is applied.
3) Regulation Wizard: An IMDS function designed to support verification of compliance with specific regulatory requirements.
4. Working Group: Standard Part Names and AI Enhancement
To minimize differences in interpretation and confusion related to product identification, and to reduce manual effort in product name creation, validation, and management, a Standard Part Names framework is planned. A new input field for standard part names is expected to be added to IMDS, enabling the use of AI-based standardized product names. Users will continue to enter product names in the same manner as before, while simultaneously benefiting from AI-driven standardization.
On December 12, 2025, IMDS Newsletter 66 was published. This article provides a summary of the key points from Section 2, “Working Groups for IMDS Topics.”
What are IMDS Working Groups?
1) IMDS Steering Committee: The governing body responsible for setting the strategic direction of IMDS and making final decisions.
2) Release: A system update for the purpose of functional enhancements.
Key Focus Areas of IMDS Working Groups
1. Working Group: Faster MDS Updates
Timely sharing of up-to-date MDS1) information across the supply chain—from raw material producers to vehicle manufacturers—remains an ongoing challenge. To simplify data flows and updates across the entire supply chain, the following approaches are currently under consideration.
1) MDS (Material Data Sheet): An IMDS data document used to record substance information.
Norms & Standards: Enable raw material manufacturers to dynamically update relevant information within material MDSs, thereby minimizing MDS rejections caused by missing information.
End of Supplier Responsibility: Clearly indicate suppliers within the system that are no longer able to update IMDS data due to business closure or similar circumstances.
Material MDS Part Number and Version Management: Review improvement options that allow information updates without generating unnecessary new versions driven by customer-specific requirements.
2. Working Group: Recycled Content
Recycled content is rapidly emerging as a key element of regulatory compliance. In particular, the EU Critical Raw Materials Act1), the Battery Regulation2), and the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation3) are expected to further increase its importance. This Working Group aims to establish a dynamic reporting framework that maintains data accuracy while minimizing delays and bottlenecks in data collection and validation processes.
1) Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA): Aims to reduce dependence on new mining activities and expand the sourcing of raw materials through recycling.
2) Battery Regulation: Legally mandates minimum recycled content for specific substances such as cobalt and lithium.
3) End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation (ELV Regulation): Legally mandates minimum recycled plastic content in vehicles.
3. Working Group: RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)
This Working Group focuses on defining business requirements for documenting compliance with the EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU)1) within MDSs. Once RoHS compliance can be documented through IMDS, electrical, electronic, and automotive manufacturers will be able to respond to customer requirements using IMDS as a single substance reporting system. It is proposed that information on RoHS-related applications2) be dynamically shared across the supply chain by leveraging the Regulation Wizard3).
1) Refer to the newsletter article [EU RoHS – Revision of Lead Exemption Provisions].
2) Application: Information describing the purpose for which a regulated substance is used or the exemption under which it is applied.
3) Regulation Wizard: An IMDS function designed to support verification of compliance with specific regulatory requirements.
4. Working Group: Standard Part Names and AI Enhancement
To minimize differences in interpretation and confusion related to product identification, and to reduce manual effort in product name creation, validation, and management, a Standard Part Names framework is planned. A new input field for standard part names is expected to be added to IMDS, enabling the use of AI-based standardized product names. Users will continue to enter product names in the same manner as before, while simultaneously benefiting from AI-driven standardization.