Joint press release with the Consumer Affairs AgencyMETI to Strengthen Efforts to Disseminate Recall Information

More than 100 of the serious product accidents every year are caused by products that are under recall, accounting for nearly 10% of the total serious accidents reported in accordance with the Consumer Product Safety Act per year.

Considering this situation, METI and CAA have jointly compiled strengthened measures to convey recall information to the public. METI will conduct the following efforts, while cooperating with other related ministries and agencies (see Appendix 1(PDF:245KB) (in Japanese)).

1) Encouraging entities

To enhance the effectiveness of recalls, METI will encourage manufacturers and importers to thoroughly implement recall-related measures and also organize a framework for cooperation with retailers. METI will promote the following efforts to facilitate dissemination of recall information to consumers:

1. Encouraging manufacturers and importers to thoroughly implement recall-related measures
2. Encouraging retailers to take part in such recall-related measures

2) Encouraging consumers

To prevent consumers from being involved in accidents caused by recalled products, it is important not only to encourage entities to thoroughly implement recall-related measures, but also to provide consumers with more opportunities to access recall information. METI will promote the following efforts to achieve a society in which consumers develop the interest in voluntarily accessing recall information:

1. Disseminating the CAA website on recall information
2. Proactive alerts to consumers about recall information
3. Efforts to prevent accidents that may be caused by deterioration of aging products
4. Consumer education and activities to raise public awareness of recall information

Taking the compiled measures into account, on April 26, 2013, METI and CAA jointly requested entities whose products caused accidents which led to recalls of the products to fortify measures related to recalls, including efforts based on the characteristics of products, such as sales channels, major categories of users, and regions where users live.

Concurrently, METI requested retailers to respond to requests from manufacturers, importers, and other entities to provide cooperation, as well as asking such retailers to proactively cooperate in providing consumers with recall information.

April 26, 2013

Product Safety Division, Commerce, Distribution and Industrial Safety Policy Group