| TOP |
| 5th Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (March 17, 1998) |
1. Complainant: Japan Foreign Trade Council
2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of International Trade and Industry
3. Complaint:
Although ASME specifications are recognized in relation to special authorization of U.S.-made LPG bulk containers, the import inspection is conducted based on the various regulations pertaining to Japan's High Pressure Gas Safety Law, preventing actual import. It thus cannot be said that relaxed import policy has been adopted. There is a method of having the inspection conducted in Japan following import, but it is expensive and unrealistic.
In keeping with the program to promote deregulation that was reviewed in March of 1997, the law was revised on April 1, 1997 to authorize autonomous inspection and stamping for superior overseas manufacturers. However, for LPG bulk containers, Japan's High-Pressure Gas Safety Institute still requires on-site inspections in the U.S. or inspection at time of import, which are extremely expensive. Thus, import of LPG bulk containers should be authorized using ASME inspection and stamping, mentioned previously.
4. Corresponding Policy of the Ministries concerned:
In April of 1997, under the High Pressure Gas Safety Law, a system was created to register overseas manufacturers of containers, etc., for which autonomous inspection and autonomous stamping of containers (cylinders and other containers moved on the ground) would be recognized, making autonomous inspection and autonomous stamping possible. Similarly, for specified equipment (LPG bulk tanks and items fixated on the ground) as well, a system was created for registering the overseas manufacturers of specified equipment, and autonomous inspection has already been made possible. Concerning the inspection at time of registration under this system, we wish review the overseas data.
In addition, in the technical standards for specified equipment under this same law, materials meeting ASME standards are being recognized; henceforth, we wish to consider how to smooth the way for the import of bulk tanks and other specified equipment.