Asia Tech Wire (July 8) -- Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., a chipmaker owned by Japan's Sony Group, announced Monday that it failed to report the release of a hazardous chemical substance to the outside of its factory.

The underreporting occurred at the company's camera image sensor plant in Kikuyo, Kumamoto Prefecture, and the substance in question was hydrogen fluoride, which is commonly used in the processing and cleaning of semiconductors.

In fiscal years 2021 and 2022, the plant reported no releases of waste to the outside of the plant without harmless treatment, but in fact there were releases.

The plant is currently conducting a survey of hydrogen fluoride releases, and claimed that hydrogen fluoride has been properly handled.

Other factories of Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing are also investigating whether they have omitted to report chemical releases.