The objective of this law is to contribute to the improvement and dissemination of agricultural machinery as well as the promotion of agricultural production and improvement of agricultural management by the premeditated pilot research and the promotion of practical use of high-performance agricultural machinery, etc. as well as a system for the inspection of agricultural machinery and equipment and the security of the necessary funds and other measures.
(2) OUTLINE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries shall promote introduction of high-performance agricultural machinery by establishing a basic policy to introduce high-performance agricultural machinery (Articles 5-2 to 5-4). Furthermore, a type inspection shall be performed so as to contribute to the promotion of the introduction of agricultural machinery and equipment satisfying certain standards of performance (Articles 6 to 15).
National Agriculture and Bio-oriented Research Organization describes the works related to test and research for the improvement of agricultural equipment. (Article 16)
(3) CABINET ORDER AND MINISTRIAL ORDINANCES
Enforcement Order of the Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Law
Enforcement Regulations of the Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Law
(4) OUTLINE OF SPECIFICATIONS, STANDARDS and INSPECTIONS. Etc.
1) Items Covered (Fiscal Year 2005)
Agricultural tractors (riding type), rice trans-planters (riding type), vegetable trans-planters, power sprayers (traveling type), speed sprayers, combines (head-feeding type), combines (ordinary type), potato harvesters, beat harvesters, safety cabs and frames for agricultural tractors
2) Outline of the Control
i.Content of the Control
The State conducts inspections of agricultural machinery and equipment, judges whether or not they pass standards, and officially announces the findings in order to provide indicators to farmers in their selection of agricultural machinery and equipment, and indicates guidelines for improvement of agricultural machinery and equipment to manufacturers, thereby promoting the mechanization of agriculture.
In regards to the performance, construction, durability, and degree of difficulty of operation of agricultural machinery and equipment, the selection of machinery and equipment subject to type inspection conducted by the National Agriculture and Bio-oriented Research Organization based on the "Major Implementation Method and Standard for Type Inspection" shall meet the "concept for the items covered of the agricultural machinery and equipment inspection" (decided by the Agricultural Mechanization Council on November 11, 1994).
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries performs a post inspection in order to confirm if agricultural machinery and equipment passes the type inspection and maintains its performance, etc. Post inspections are performed by officers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries who visit the establishments of those requesting the inspection to check and survey the actual articles.
ii.Procedures for the Establishment and/or Amendment of Specifications, Standards and Inspections, etc.
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries establishes or amends types of agricultural machinery and equipment that type inspections are performed on in the relevant year (annually), major implementing methods, standards of type inspections and by hearing opinions from the Agricultural Materials Council, and officially reports on the effects.
Note that when agricultural tractors (riding type) and safety cabs and frames for agricultural tractors (riding type) have been tested and approved by the standard test code of the OECD the findings of the test may be utilized and the testing waived.
Furthermore, the findings for previous machines of similar construction that have already passed the inspections may be utilized.
[Flowchart for the establishment and amendment of types of agricultural machinery and equipment where type inspections are performed, major implementing methods and standards of type inspections]
iii.Procedure for Application
The manufacturer, importer, etc. submits an "Application for Type Inspection of Agricultural Machinery and Equipment" to the National Agriculture and Bio-oriented Research Organization within a time limit, if any, to request a type inspection (Institution prepares a guide for application for type inspection each fiscal year and distributes it free of charge to manufacturers, importers, etc.) The Institution accepts applications throughout the year and is speeding up the inspection procedures for agricultural tractors (riding type) and safety cabs and frames for agricultural tractors (riding type), which are not restricted to a testing timeframe due to crop cycles.
Note that the standard period for processing is five months (seven months for combines and four months for agricultural tractors(riding type) and safety cabs and frames for agricultural tractors ).
iv.Certification System
The National Agriculture and Bio-oriented Research Organization performs a type inspection and based on its findings determines whether or not the machinery or equipment meets inspection standards. The Institution reports the results and the inspection figures to the applicant and to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries the type name of the machinery and the inspection figures of the machinery that passed inspection.
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries officially announces the type name of the machinery that passed inspection and the inspection findings. An applicant notified of the passage may attach a certificate of inspection passage to the type of agricultural machinery or equipment. In such as case, a copy of the inspection findings must also be attached.
(5) Major Points of Recent Revisions in Laws and Regulations
Main Revisions Of Implementation Method and Standards of Type Inspection (in 2005)
i. Improvement of Safety and Maneuverability
A. Easy operation:
As for agricultural tractors (riding type): To add a survey item requiring evaluating visibility and steerage from the viewpoint of enhancing easy operation and safety for females and aged farmers
B. Installation safety seal of seat belt:
As for agricultural tractors (riding type): To add a survey item requiring to affix a seal calling for the setting of a seat belt for the driver because setting seatbelts are extremely important for safety measures when an accident takes place by rolling over or tumbling down.
C. Performance improvement in safety cab and safety frame etc.
In order to improve the safety at the time of rolling over or tumbling down, the range of safety cab and frame to implement the aft section load test shall be expanded and an inspection of the strength confirmation of the seat belt shall be added to the test standard.
ii. Assessment of reduction of environmental burden
Agricultural machinery and equipment are also addressing the reduction of diesel exhaust gas. Therefore, tests for confirming exhaust gas elements for specific diesel cars (special cars for farming works) such as agricultural tractors (riding type), rice transplanters (riding type), speed sprayers and combines (demounting type) (ordinary type) that run on public roads will be newly set up in consideration of the implementation of emission control.
iii. Improvement of efficiency and simplification of inspection
From the viewpoint of actual utilization and of reducing the burden of inspection for applicants, operation efficiency test of combines (demounting type) is simulated. In addition, combines (ordinary type) are largely reviewed in their test area because of their improvement in operational efficiency, thus a selective inspection will be applied to agricultural products.
Moreover, efficiency and simplification will be pursued by implementing a uniform structure inspection for all items involved when any defects are found at the inspection.
(6) REFERENCE INFORMATION
Liaison Office for Further Information
Technical Affairs Office, Crop Production Division, Agricultural Promotion Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Tel 03-3591-4958 http://www.maff.go.jp