Today's New Topics (February 17, 2006)

Press Releases

Publication of Guidelines for SME Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Formulation

The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency has created Guidelines for SME Business Continuity Plans (BCP) in order to enable SME executives to formulate and implement BCPs by themselves without any excessive burden. These guidelines will be posted on the agency’s website on February 20.

Release of PRTR data for FY 2004

FY 2004 PRTR data, which were reported by establishments pursuant to the Law concerning Reporting, etc. of Release into the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management, will be posted on the METI website on February 24. Requests for disclosure of data on individual establishments will be accepted from 15:00 of the same day.

Authorization of designs and construction methods in connection with modifications to fabrication facilities (Global Nuclear Fuel Japan Co., Ltd.)

Designs and construction methods to be implemented in conjunction with modifications to the fabrication facilities of Global Nuclear Fuel Japan Co., Ltd. were authorized pursuant to Article 16.2, Paragraph 1 of the Law on the Regulation of Nuclear Source Material, Nuclear Fuel Material and Reactors.

Issuance of certificate for designs of nuclear fuel transport containers (Nuclear Fuel Transport Co., Ltd.)

A certificate was issued to Nuclear Fuel Transport Co., Ltd. for designs of two types of nuclear fuel transportation containers, pursuant to Article 35 of the Notification on Specification of Technical Standards for Transport of Nuclear Fuel Materials outside of Establishments (provisional name).

Temporary sales measure related to the change in indication for the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law

In 1999 the Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law (former law) was revised to become the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (current law), which was implemented on April 1, 2001 and mandates that products subject to the regulations be indicated with the new law’s mark (PSE). At the same time, with regard to products covered by the regulations that had already been marked with an indication pursuant to the former law and distributed on the market, it has been deemed acceptable to sell these products or display them for marketing purposes for a limited time period as a temporary measure. A grace period of five, seven, or ten years has been set in place for sales of the different targeted products, with the grace period for those products given five years set to end on March 31, 2006.

Response to recall of some general compound containers for air and oxygen handled by Luxfer Japan and Kawasaki Safety Service Industries, Ltd.

It has been revealed that there is a possibility that some general compound containers for air and oxygen handled by Luxfer Japan and Kawasaki Safety Services Industries, Ltd. do not conform to technical standards. On account of this, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) has promptly ascertained the relevant facts and given the necessary instructions to both companies.

Incompatible safety analysis codes entered in application for permission for nuclear reactor installment (alteration), and amendments to documents attached to the application for permission for nuclear reactor installment of the Oma Nuclear Power Station by the Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (“J-POWER”)

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Association (NISA) received reports today from the Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (“J-POWER”), the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), and the Japan Atomic Power Company regarding incompatible safety analysis codes, which were implemented by Hitachi Ltd. from 1996 to 1997, included in the companies’ applications for permission for nuclear reactor installment (alteration). In addition, a submission was received today from the Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. regarding amendments to documents attached to the aforementioned applications, in which a safety analysis using the correct entered values has been recorded.

Public Comments on Policies

Request for public comments on the draft amendment of the notice on GILSP genetically modified organisms established by the METI Minister, pursuant to the ministerial ordinance establishing measures to prevent inappropriate proliferation in connection with Category 2 utilization of genetically modified organisms

Request for public comments on the plan for vitalization of keirin and motorcycle races compiled by Subcommittee on Revitalization of Keirin and Motorcycle Races (provisional), Keirin and Motorcycle Races Committee, Industrial Structure Council

Council Meetings

26th meeting of Recombinant DNA Technology Subcommittee, Chemicals and Bio-industry Committee, Industrial Structure Council (February 24)

FY 2005 meeting of Subcommittee on Thermal Energy, Advisory Committee on Environmental Review (February 28)

2nd meeting of New Growth Policy Committee, Industrial Structure Council (February 27)

6th meeting of Fundamental Issues Subcommittee, Installment Sales Committee, Industrial Structure Council (February 27)

17th meeting of Technical Committee on Medical Equipment, Standards Board, Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (February 24)