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

2-(5) Shortening period to be required for type approval of imported motor vehicles.

1. Complainant: Keidanren

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of Transport

3. Complaint:

To obtain motor vehicle type approval, it is necessary to pass an examination for certification by Ministry of Transport. The ministry's standard processing period for type designation and type notification is two months or less.

The complainant believes that examination procedures for type approval should be divided into wide-raging examinations such as those required for full model changes and into examinations for minor changes, and that, bearing importers' circumstances in mind, the standard processing period for minor changes be shortened from the current two months required.

4. Results of deliberation:

Type approval examinations are affected by seasonal fluctuation in the number of cases up for examination and the workload for other duties. Therefore, there is some concern that it may not be possible to complete examination in time if the standard processing period for minor changes is shortened. Moreover, adopting different standard processing periods could make processing more complicated and increase the workload.

Accordingly, it is not appropriate to adopt different standard processing periods according to the type of application.

However, the administrative branch must endeavor to expedite its work promptly within the existing framework, and although the standard processing period might be shorter than that of other countries, it is necessary, bearing the importers' interests in mind, to conduct examination as quickly as possible.

In the light of the current complaint, the concerned ministry or agency undertakes to speed up examination procedures in the future.

Government decision (May 27, 1993)

Although the standard processing period for motor vehicle type approval examinations might be shorter than that in other countries, it is necessary to conduct the examinations as quickly as possible, bearing the importers' interests in mind.