Japan’s government sets recommended specifications for bear repellent
Human casualties from bear attacks have been increasing in recent years, heightening interest in deterrent sprays, according to the Environment Ministry.
On Tuesday, Japan's Environment Ministry released recommended specifications for bear deterrent sprays for the first time. The guidelines include a minimum spray time of six seconds and a spraying distance of at least 7.5 meters. The repellents should contain an active ingredient concentration of 1% to 2%, including capsaicin. Safety features are also emphasized, such as allowing users to direct the spray by touch, preventing accidental discharge, and displaying use-by dates.
The ministry aims for these recommendations to serve as a reference for companies developing repellents and for consumers when making purchasing decisions. Human casualties from bear attacks have been on the rise in recent years, leading to increased interest in these deterrent sprays. However, there is currently no standardized set of specifications for these products, and some available on the market may have limited effectiveness.
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Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
