6th Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (March 16, 2000)

5-(3) Acceptance of foreign test data in inspecting imported building materials

1. Complainant: Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of Construction

3. Complaint:

In importing foreign building materials, even products that satisfy foreign standards should be tested again in Japan, and it costs more than one million yen.
Testing of building materials should be simplified, making use of test data from the original country and so on.

4. Corresponding Policy of the Ministries concerned:

In accordance with revisions of the Building Standards Law made in 1998, foreign testing bodies can be designated to carry out certification of foreign manufacturers making parts certified by the minister of construction after meeting certain requirements and certification of foreign manufacturers. In addition, foreign evaluation bodies recognized by the minister of construction can evaluate technical evaluation as conforming to specified standards, where performance set out in ordinances of the Building Standards Law is concerned.
At present, a Canadian testing organization (ULC) and an Australian testing organization (CSIRO) have been designated.

5. Remarks
The complainant accepted this policy.