The Cabinet Office, government of Japan ＞ Top page of OTO ＞ Outline of operations of the Market Access Ombudsman Council

(Provisional Translation)

Outline of operations of the Market Access Ombudsman Council

February 25, 1994
Head of Office of Market Access

Based on the Cabinet decision of February 1, 1994 (Reorganization of the Office of the Trade and Investment Ombudsman), the following particulars have been decided concerning the operation of the Market Access Ombudsman Council (hereafter, "the Council").

Description

  1. Composition
    • (1) The Council shall be composed of up to 12 members.
    • (2) In order to facilitate thorough discussion of specialized issues, the Council shall include up to 8 specialists.
  2. Members and Specialists
    • The members and specialists (hereafter, "the members, etc.") shall be requested by the Prime Minister to participate in the Council.
  3. Special Members (Non-Japanese)
    • The Council shall include up to 3 non-Japanese members. However, the special non-Japanese members shall have no voting privileges.
  4. Chairman
    • The Council shall install a chairman, to be decided by the members voting among themselves.
  5. Duties
    • (1) After receiving reports from the Office of Market Access, the Council shall have the power to deliberate the following matters and make recommendations to the Office of Market Access, if necessary.
      • 1] matters relating to the Office of Market Access's operating policies and activities in general
      • 2] matters concerning systems relating to individual complaints
      • 3] matters concerning major specific complaints
      • 4] matters relating to import testing procedures and other market access is sues
    • (2) The Council shall have the power to deliberate aspects common to individual cases and, if necessary, make recommendations to the Office of Market Access.
  6. Hearing of Opinions
    • The Council shall request staff from the ministries concerned, academic experts, complainants and domestic and foreign bodies with an interest in the matters under deliberation to attend its meetings, to receive reports and to hear their opinions.
  7. Grievance Resolution Committee
    • A Grievance Resolution Committee shall be established, to process complaints promptly and appropriately.