| 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:
A notification revision of October 1997 indicated that composition labels in English (but not labels indicating home and other care methods) would be recognized in the domestic sale of imported clothes. Thus, from the standpoint of reducing costs, increasing imports, and coordinating the JIS standards for labeling using symbols with the ISO standards, care labels in English within the range of the consumer's understanding should also be recognized.
4. Corresponding Policy of the Ministries concerned:
(1) Composition labels
Concerning clothing quality labels, the actual items to be indicated (fiber composition, washing and care labeling codes using symbols, etc.) are specified in the official regulations on fiber manufacturing quality labels, based on the Household Goods Quality Labeling Law.
Recently, in a review of the Household Goods Quality Labeling Law, in consideration of the extent of consumer recognition, the use of the terms "cotton," "wool," and "silk" on fiber composition labels has expanded, and the terms "nylon," "polyester," "rayon," and "acetate" will be added, making it possible to use labels that use these terms.
We plan to continue our review of this issue, giving consideration to the extent of consumer recognition.
(2) Care labeling code-using symbols
The care labeling codes for home washing, etc., that use symbols are stipulated in JIS L 0217 ("Label Codes for the Care of Fibers Manufactured and Labeling Methods"). JIS L 0217 is cited in the Household Goods Quality Labeling Law, and labeling must be in keeping with it. In terms of international standards, there is ISO3758 ("Textiles - Care labeling code using symbols"), in which labels that use symbols alone are recognized. However, as no evaluation method has been prescribed at present, from the standpoint of appropriately enforcing the Household Goods Quality Labeling Law, it would not be appropriate to introduce it domestically.
In March of 1995, JIS L 0217 coordinated its stipulations on use of a white base cloth, black or dark blue codes, and a red "x" to indicate prohibitions with ISO 3758 and eliminated the color stipulations. However, complete coordination of JIS L 0217 with the international standards is expected to be done promptly, as soon as ISO standards have been established for the test evaluation method that is currently under review at ISO.
Ministry of International Trade and Industry work necessary for international coordination in fiscal year 1995 and fiscal year 1996 will focus on both conducting investigations of the status of coordination of the related standards with the international standards and conducting investigative research aiming at accord between the test method that is slated to be added to the ISO standards and the actualities of life in Japan. In fiscal year 1997, we plan to participate in ISO deliberations based on the results of this investigative research.
5. Remarks
The complainant's opinion is as follows.
"I understand that this is the policy as it now stands."