Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (May 13, 1994)

1-(6) Type Approval of Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems by the Japan Water Works Association

1. Complainant: Embassy of the United States

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of Health and Welfare

3. Complaint:

The Water Works Law stipulates that waterworks operators (municipalities, etc.) may refuse to supply their water or may reject applications for connection to the water supply, if the structure or materials of the water supply equipment (water pipes branching out from the waterworks operator's supply pipes and water supply fixtures directly connected to this) fail to meet standards, prescribed by their respective water supply regulations.

Individual waterworks operators, in accordance with their respective water supply regulations, specify that the products constituting the water supply equipment of water supply users (consumers) be limited to those which have received type approval from the Japan Water Works Association and which have been inspected by said Association, or which individual waterworks operators have approved as appropriate, etc.

The complainant has raised the following issues.

(1) Since type approval standards for water purifiers with reverse osmosis filters are not clearly described on the current Japan Water Works Association standards, it is impossible to receive type approval. Therefore, standards should be established immediately.

(2) According to the Japan Water Works Association, air gap construction is needed to prevent backflow from the water purifier to the water supply pipe. The water purifier in this complaint, while it has no air gap, is equipped with a backflow prevention valve between the water purifier and the water supply pipe. The main unit also incorporates devices to prevent backflow and to drain excess water to a sufficient degree. Therefore, there is no danger that backflow will occur, and this water purifier should be approved.

4. Results of deliberation:

(1) Regarding type approval for water purifiers, there are no standards relating specifically to water purifiers with reverse osmosis filters, but since current standards of the Japan Water Works Association take into consideration not only structure but performance as well, they can be applied to the water purifiers in question. Further, regarding backflow prevention devices located between water purifiers with reverse osmosis filters and the water supply pipe, the Association has determined that, it is sufficient that such water purifiers be equipped with a backflow prevention device that has the same backflow prevention capability as air gap construction. Accordingly, if the complainant applies for structure and materials approval for the water purifiers in question, equipped with a backflow prevention valve equivalent in place of air gap construction, the Association should begin examination immediately and decide in the near future whether to grant type approval.

(2) Given that having type approval by the Association is an especially favorable condition for entry into the water purifier market, the Association should deal with applications for type approval swiftly and appropriately. Also, from the perspective of responding quickly to technological innovation and the entry of new products into the market, the Association should study improvement of the type approval system.

Government decision (June 24, 1994)

1-(6) Facilitating type approval by the Japan Water Works Association of water purifiers with reverse osmosis film

(1) The decision whether to grant type approval for water purifiers with reverse osmosis film will be made soon.

(2) In addition to appropriately and swiftly dealing with applications for type approval applications for water supply equipment, consideration wil1 be carried out soon regarding the improvement of the type approval system, from the perspective of responding quickly to technological innovation and the entry of new products into the market, and the Association will be instructed by the end of FY1994 based on the results.

Follow-up (June 5, 1995)

1-(6) Type Approval of Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment System by the Japan Water Works Association

(1) The Japan Water Works Association (JWWA) granted type approval for the reverse osmosis drinking water treatment system mentioned in this complaint in October 1994.

(2) Regarding improvements to the type approval system, a study committee on water supply equipment was established and studied the issue, and the committee directed the JWWA to take appropriate measures. As a result, where type approval application procedures and inspection methods are concerned, the JWWA undertook to accept type approval applications throughout the year and to simplify and streamline inspection by expanding the scope of the Secretariat's discretion and so on, in order to process applications promptly.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare will follow up on the measures instituted by the JWWA.