Report of the OTO Advisory Council (April 12, 1993)

2-(1) Easing regulations of High Pressure Gas Control Law

1. Complainant: the U.S. Embassy

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of International Trade and Industry

3. Complaint:

Regarding High Pressure Gas Control Law, the complainant believes that

(1) A committee including foreign experts should be established to review the law in order to harmonize its provisions with international standards;

(2) When empty ship containers are refilled with gas, the requirement for a permit in addition to a production permit each time a tank is refilled, should be reviewed;

(3) When machinery is given special approval, machinery of the same design should be automatically approved.

4. Results of deliberation:

The complainant has already been advised of the following steps taken regarding this complaint:

(1) Japan and the U.S. agreed that High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan would establish a channel to handle inquiries from foreign companies by April 1992 and that the two sides would discuss their respective standards in specific cases. The channel was set up by the Institute on April 30, 1992.

(2) Regarding simplification of procedures for ship container permits, Japan and the U.S. agreed to take concrete steps on this matter by October 1992, taking the opinions of other counties into consideration. The matter was resolved when a directive introducing comprehensive permit procedures was issued by the head of the Industrial Location and Environmental Protection bureau on October 28, 1992 (Directive 4/334 Special Refilling of Bonded High Pressure Gases).

(3) Special approval procedures for identical equipment in the case of subsequent applications can be simplified, but in fact there are fine differences in each case and each application requires individual inspection. However, Japan and the U.S. agreed to review details concerning reducing the documentation needed for approval procedures during 1992 and to implement changes promptly. This matter was settled by reducing the number of documents, such as interim calculation reports, required, for all applications filed after January 1, 1993.

Government decision (May 27, 1993)

The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan will establish a channel for handling inquires from foreign companies, and the procedures related to the High Pressure Gas Control Law will be simplified.