| TOP |
| 5th Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (March 17, 1998) |
1. Complainant: Tokyo Chamber of Commerce
2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of International Trade and Industry
3. Complaint:
(1) In July of 1995, when the Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law Enforcement Ordinance was implemented, further coordination of the technical standards under this law with the international (IEC) standards was expressed, but time has passed with no clear action plan stated. A time limit should be set and coordination of the IEC standards and the technical standards of the Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law achieved promptly.
(2) For the purpose of reducing expenses, etc., by providing exemption from import inspections, an early-stage mutual agreement should be reached on mutual approval of the standards for and authorization of industrial appliances.
(3) The fact that most of Japan's plug receptacles are the 2-wire type, with no earth line appears to be a non-tariff barrier to overseas countries. Thus, use of the 3-wire type should be promoted.
4. Corresponding Policy of the Ministries concerned:
(1) We recognize that coordination of the safety standards for electrical appliances with the IEC standards, which are the international version of the standards of each country, is an international trend, and we consider it important for each country to strive toward such coordination. Since Showa 58, Japan has adopted the IEC standards as the technical standards for electrical appliances.
Concerning further coordination of the technical standards for electrical appliances with the IEC standards, as is clearly specified in the March 1997 revision of the program to promote deregulation, further coordination with the IEC standards (commonly known as IEC-J) by the end of fiscal year 1997 has been planned for, which will lead to further international coordination and increase both the international quality and transparency of the standards.
(2) At present, a mutual approval agreement between Japan and the E.U. is underway. The Ministry of International Trade and Industry also recognizes the importance of promoting a mutual approval agreement with the E.U. that includes both testing and authorization. In June of 197, at the EU-Japan Summit, it was specified that work to conclude mutual approval agreements in fields designated as appropriate is to be accelerated and reinforced, and successive mutual approval agreements should be started in the possible fields and in the possible formats, and Japan is in the process of continuing deliberations with the E.U.
(3) As there are no problems in terms of safety with the current 2-wire plug, making the 3-wire type compulsory would be an extremely high economic burden; thus, we will not employ measures to make it compulsory but consider it appropriate to leave selection freely up to the consumer.
5. Remarks
The complainant's opinion is as follows.
"I understand that this is the policy as it now stands."