Topic: U.S. Filwasters: Stock-up on Velvia 100 NOW!

[Francois]

I just read this: Fuji is forced to stop selling Velvia 100 in the U.S.A.
The film contains trace amounts of a toxic chemical and will no longer be allowed to be sold in the States.
Read all about it here
https://www.fujifilm.com/us/en/business/professional-photography/film/velvia-100

[Jeff Warden]

Oh my. I wonder if this will impact Provia as well?

[Indofunk]

Velvia 50 is better anyways, and still legal 😉

[02Pilot]

I haven't done it, but I understand that ordering from Japanese Amazon is the preferred alternative for otherwise unavailable Japanese films.

[Francois]

I haven't done it, but I understand that ordering from Japanese Amazon is the preferred alternative for otherwise unavailable Japanese films.

That's just as long as it's not illegal... then the customs will have a ball with the order.

[Kai-san]

I have very good experience with ordering from Japan Exposures:

https://www.japanexposures.com/shop/film-analog/film/page-6/

Some of the films listed are not available anymore, but click on "Quick view" to check availability.

[Francois]

Oh my. I wonder if this will impact Provia as well?

Not supposed to. So on this you're safe for now.
I don't know the chemical that will be banned but judging by the concentrations in those films, it must be really bad.
Thing is that the new regulations are concerning fire retardant chemicals (which this chemical appears to be a part of). But instead of looking whether the chemical will come in contact with the skin in the said product, they went the easy way and banned it altogether. Can't blame them for taking a hard line as it takes only a single exemption for greedy people to use it as a loophole to bring the stuff in anyways.
I found a more in-dept article here (https://petapixel.com/2021/07/06/fujifilm-forced-to-discontinue-velvia-100-film-in-the-u-s-by-the-epa/)
Here's the main thing about it

According to the EPA, phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) is widely used for both its flame-retardant and lubricating properties and has been used in the manufacture of rubber, foam, cotton, and cutting oils as well as electronic equipment such as video display units cables, casting resins, glues, and engineering thermoplastics.

[LEAFotography]

That's a pity, I like Velvia 100...

I'd much prefer an approach taken by other industries (take-away cups saying "caution your coffee may be hot" [I should hope so!!!], or "this product may contain nuts" on a bag of peanuts [I really really hope so!!!]).

I'd be cool with a warning on a film pack saying "do not lick or otherwise consume this film" or "do not suck your fingers after loading your film" and the like. I expect under my sink I have a number of liquids and powders that are at least as toxic and in greater concentrations and quantities than in my modest old packs of Velvia 100.

[LEAFotography]

The problematic compound seems to be "phenol isopropylated phosphate (3:1)" though I have no idea what this is really 

[Francois]

The thing is that in this world we have to prepare for the certainty that idiots will do things that no normal sane person would do...
Just like when some guy sued Winnebago for not writing in their instructions that the cruise control was not an autopilot and that the driver should not leave the drivers' seat in any circumstance while the vehicle is moving. (guess how he got in a massive car wreck)
Or the case that prompted the manufacturer of my hair dryer to write in the instruction that the device should not be used in the shower...