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

5-(4) Relaxing regulation of foreign-specification non-combustible materials

1. Complainant: Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of Construction

3. Complaint:

It is sometimes necessary to use non-combustible materials approved by the minister for construction or conforming to Ministry of Construction notice No. 1828, but with regard to approval or conformity certifications, requirements should be relaxed to allow materials conforming to foreign specifications from the United States or Europe.

4. Corresponding Policy of the Ministries concerned:

In approving of non-combustible materials, it is necessary to see whether construction materials satisfy requirements specified in orders. Even foreign materials that satisfy foreign requirements still need to see whether they satisfy the requirements in by orders.
In accordance with revisions of the Building Standards Law made in 1998, foreign recognized evaluation body approved by the minister of construction can evaluate conformance to requirements set out in ordinances of the Building Standards Law.

5. Remarks
The complainant accepted this policy.