JAPAN: REVISION OF A PART OF CABINET ORDINANCE, MINISTERIAL ORDINANCE AND OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS QUALITY LABELLING LAW The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif.97.347. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: JAPAN. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2). 2. Agency responsible: Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification can be indicated if different from above. 3. Notified under Article: Not listed. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Household goods except medical and agricultural goods. (34.01, 34.02, 34.05, 39.22, 39.23, 39.24, 39.26, 42.02, 42.03, 43.04, 48.03, 48.18, 5063 (excluding 56,59) 66.01, 70.12, 70.13, 76.07, 85.09, 85.10, 85.16, 85.28, 90.04, 91.13, 94.01, 94.03, 94.04). 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Revision of a Part of Cabinet Ordinance, Ministerial Ordinance and Official Notification of the Household Goods Quality Labelling Law (2 pages, available in English). 6. Description of content: 1. To review the designated items list. Outline of the revision for the designated items as follows: Commodities that will do consumers harm without labelling are added to designated items list considering those marketing and complaints from consumers; Commodities with small market are exempted. 2. To review the items of labelling. The items of quality labelling on commodities are designated. The revisions are planned to make the items limited for only that are necessary for consumers to identify the quality of goods. 3. To review the labelling methods. The revisions are planned to make labelling methods flexible with clear and easy to understand for consumers. 4. To repeal notification of the quality indication number for textile goods. Textile goods have been permitted to write the quality indication number for textile goods instead of writing companies name. However, taking into consideration consumers' convenience textile goods shall carry the name, address and telephone number of manufacturers, distributors or labelling agents. 5. The Cabinet Order is cancelled on textile composition. MITI has ordered the manufacturers, distributors or labelling agents to observe the provisions of textile composition. This order will be cancelled. 7. Objective and rationale: It is needed to review the law to respond to the diversity and complexity of household goods according to technological innovation, changing life styles and enforcement of the Product Liability Law. 8. Relevant documents: The basic law is the Household Goods Quality Labelling Law. This revisions will appear in "KAMPO" (Official Government Gazette) when adopted. 9. Proposed date of adoption: September 1997; Proposed date of entry into force: Not yet determined. 10. Final date for comments: 10 September 1997. 11. Text available from: National enquiry point. (0196)

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