(1) PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The objective of this law is to designate standards for measurement and secure administration of proper measurement, and thereby contribute to the development of the economy and cultural development.
(2) OUTLINE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The Measurement Law was entirely amended in May 1992 from the three viewpoints such as internationalization, corresponding to technological innovation and the interests of consumers and was enforced in November 1, 1993.
1) The Law establishes legal measuring units (Article 3) for the standardization of units, and prohibits the use of illegal measuring units for transactions or certification (Article 8)
2) The law prescribes restrictions on use of measuring instruments at the time of transactions or certification (Article 16 -), a notification system of the business regarding specified measuring instruments in order to ensure correct measuring instruments (Article 40 -), a system of conforming to requirements of home measuring instruments (Article 53 -), restriction on transfer etc. for measuring instruments (Article 57 -), a verification and inspection system for measuring instruments for transactions or certifications (Article 70 -), a designated manufacturer system where products of manufacturers with the ability to control the quality of the certain standards are exempted from inspections (Article 90 -) and an inspection system of verification standards (Article 102).
3) In order to implement proper measurement, an obligation of accurate measurement shall be imposed on a person who measures at the time of transactions or certification by use of legal measuring units (Article 10). Also, quantity control related to sale for commodities (Article 11) and a registration system of measurement certification business (Article 107 -) shall be prescribed. In addition, supervision shall be conduced through periodic inspections (Article 19 -) and on-site inspections (Article 148 -).
4) In order to promote voluntarily measuring control, registration system of certified measurer (Article 122 -) and the designation of proper measuring control business place (Article 127 -) be done.
5) By conducting calibration on the basis of designated standard equipment, there will be a system of supplying measuring standards for externally certifying its relationship.
(3) CABINET ORDER AND MINISTRIAL ORDINANCES
Enforcement Order for the Measurement Law
Enforcement Regulations of the Measurement Law
Enforcement Order on Measurement Unit
Enforcement Regulations on Measurement Unit
Cabinet Order for the Measurement Concerning Sale of Specified Commodities
Ministerial Ordinance for the Measurement Concerning Sale of Specified Commodities
Cabinet Order for the Fees Related to the Measurement Law
Cabinet Regulations for the Fees related to the Measurement Law, etc.
(4) OUTLINE OF THE CONTROL
1) Items Covered
Specified measuring instruments (such as gas meters, water meters, blood pressure gauge, pressure gauges, clinical thermometers and non-automatic weighting instruments).
2) Outline of the Control
i.Content of the control
Measuring instruments used for transaction or certification must pass verification.
ii.Procedures for application
Applicants shall submit their applications for each classification of measuring instruments respectively to governmental agencies (such as the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, prefectual measurement verification center), the Japan Electric Meters Inspection Corporation or designated verification body (Appendix No. 4 of the Enforcement Order for the Measurement Law).
Applicants for pattern approval shall submit their applications for each measuring instrument to the following institutions (Article 22 of the Enforcement Order for the Measurement Law
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (http://www.aist.go.jp)
Japan Electric Meters Inspection Corporation (http://www.jemic.go.jp)
Otherwise, the disignated verification body shall perform inspections for pattern approval.
(5) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RECENT AMENDMENT
1) Amendment of the Measurement Law concerning promotion of a review of standard and certification system to revise provisions pertaining to the abolishment of requirements for designated verification body, etc. as public service corporation (enforcement from April 1, 2001)
2) Measures to respond to the needs to measure infinitesimal substances, and measures to improve reliability of measurement certification businesses (enforcement from April 1, 2002)
3) Revisions in the list of items on measurement certificates, deletion of CVs as an attached resource to registration or certification application of artificial measurers, and addition of criteria in correction business (enforcement from January 23, 2003)
4) Revision of the designation system for calibration businesses to accreditation system (enforcement from July 1, 2005)
1. Transition of the designation system to accreditation system ("designation" in the Law is replaced by "accreditation").
2. Clarification of standards for accreditation
a) Deletion of texts setting out accreditation standards as being "provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry", and instead set out that "procedures required for accreditation will be provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry".
b) For clarification of accreditation standards, provision in item 2 of paragraph 2 sets out standards described in ISO/IEC, and is understood to apply ISO/IEC17025.
3. Introduction of renewal system
Unless renewed, accreditation will lose validity after the period determined by cabinet order. The Cabinet Order sets the period at four years.
4. Classification of businesses
To state clearly in the legal text the classification of businesses, quantity of state of phenomenon as provided in Article 2 of the Law was cited.
5. Transitional measures for change from designation to accreditation
Accreditation will be valid until the later of the following two dates: two years from enforcement of the amendment; or expiration, after the most recent designation, of the period provided in the Cabinet Order set out in Article 144-2.
(6) REFERENCE INFORMATION
(Liaison Office for Further Information)
. Measurement and Intellectual Infrastructure Division (Tel: 03-3501-3279)
. Metrology Policy Office (Tel: 03-3501-1688)
Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Electricity Market Division, Electricity and Gas Industry Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (Tel: 03-3501-1748)
http://www.meti.go.jp