New Establishment and Revision of the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) (February 2020)

1. Outline of the new establishment and revision of standards

In February 2020, METI newly established 30 standards and revised 71 standards (see Appendix 1). In particular, METI believes that the following establishment of new standards and revision of the existing standards are especially important.

(1) Establishment of the JIS for quality and test methods for chemically colored films for stainless steel

The surfaces of stainless steel are capable of producing colors using films manufactured through chemical treatments. In recent years, technologies involving this film manufacturing have improved and this has enabled the production of a variety of colors and the evenness of colors. Against this backdrop, METI established a new JIS for assessment of chemically colored films for stainless steel, aiming to widen the application of such color-producing stainless steel, enhance the quality of color-producing parts thereof and fortify other strong points.

• 
  Photo 1: Picture of the principle of color-producing stainless steel
• 
  Photo 2: Example of a variety of colors using chemically-colored films (prototypes of drink coasters)

(2) Streamlining of the JIS for assessment of more diverse photovoltaic cell modules

As for photovoltaic cell modules, measurement technologies for assessing such modules are improving and the mechanisms of changes over time of materials are becoming clearer. These advancements have permitted industries to assess the functions and safety of such modules in a more refined manner than conventional assessment approaches. Against this backdrop, METI revised the existing JIS for this technology and made the scheme of the standards consistent with the corresponding international standards, aiming to develop an environment in which industries are able to appropriately assess photovoltaic cell modules, which are becoming more diverse.

• 
  Figure 1: Example of photovoltaic cell modules
• 
  Figure 2: Example of ignition-property tests
  Photos provided by the Japan Electrical Manufacturers’ Association

(3) Revision of the JIS for coaxial cables for receiving television signals

Japan started satellite broadcasting systems using new 4K and 8K super hi-vision technologies in December 2018. For receiving 4K and 8K signals with television sets, viewers need coaxial cables to connect an antenna to their television sets. However, conventional coaxial cables sometimes produce noise and fail to show clear television pictures because they are likely to be affected by signals from wireless LANs and microwave ovens. This makes it difficult for television sets to fully utilize new 4K- and 8K-based satellite broadcasting systems. To overcome this challenge, METI examined the performance and characteristics of coaxial cables that are stipulated in the existing JIS and revised the provisions of the JIS in order to address such new 4K- and 8K-based satellite broadcasting systems as well.

This revised JIS is expected to contribute to the production of coaxial cables, simplification and streamlining of working steps including wiring designs and wiring work, and dissemination of such new 4K- and 8K-based satellite broadcasting systems.

2. Outline of the JIS

The JIS stipulate types and quality of products, data, services, etc., test or assessment methods for ascertaining such types and quality, and the values of standards that businesses are required to meet. Producers, service providers, product users and consumers and other stakeholders, for example, make use of these standards in their approaches to accessing quality products and enjoying the provision of services in a secured manner.

METI has been establishing new standards or revising the existing ones for the JIS in response to technological advancements, changes in social environments and other factors as necessary.

For more information on the JIS, visit the following websites:

• The Japanese Industrial Standards Committee
• METI website for standardization and certification

For more information on the Standardization System for Cultivating New Markets, visit the following website:

• Standardization System for Cultivating New Markets

For details of the respective JIS, visit the following website.

• Website for retrieving JIS

3. Past news releases

For past news releases related to the revision of JIS, visit the following website.

• Past news releases related to the revision of JIS

4. Partial revision of the Industrial Standardization Act

The Bill for the Act of Partial Revision of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, etc. (Act No. 33 of 2018) was approved at the 196th ordinary session of the Diet in 2018 and the Act was established. In line with this, the Industrial Standardization Act was partially revised to newly entitle data and services as targets of standardization under the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and to change the title of the Industrial Standardization Act from “Kogyo Hyojyunka Ho” to “Sangyo Hyojyunka Ho” in Japanese as well as the title of the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) from “Nihon Kogyo Kikaku” to “Nihon Sangyo Kikaku” in Japanese. The revised Act came into force on July 1, 2019.
For more information, visit the following website:

• Major establishments of amendments of JIS

5. Contact counters of the respective JIS

If you wish to make any inquiry on details of the respective JIS that have been publicized, directly contact the divisions in charge of METI shown in Appendix 1. Please note that the division in charge of Item 1, (1) above is the International Standardization Division and that in charge of Item 1-(2) and (3) is the International Electrotechnology Standardization Division.

Related Documents

• Appendix 1: List of Newly Established and Revised JIS Publicly Notified on February 20, 2020 (PDF:121KB)
• Appendix 2: JIS for quality and test methods for chemically colored films for stainless steel (PDF:35KB)
• Appendix 3: Streamlining of the JIS for assessment of more diverse photovoltaic cell modules (PDF:33KB)
• Appendix 4: Revision of the JIS for coaxial cables for receiving television signals (PDF:44KB)

Division in Charge

• Information on this press release:
  Standards and Conformity Assessment Public Relations Office, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau

• Information on the respective JIS:
  International Standardization Division & International Electrotechnology Standardization Division, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau