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  5. Cabinet Decisions on Relevant Cabinet Orders for the Consumer Product Safety Act and Other Related Acts

Cabinet Decisions on Relevant Cabinet Orders for the Consumer Product Safety Act and Other Related Acts

New regulations on toys and gas torches to be introduced for child and general consumer safety

December 10, 2024

On December 10, 2024, two Cabinet Decisions were made on the “Cabinet Order for Developing Relevant Cabinet Orders Involving the Enforcement of the Act on Partially Amending the Consumer Product Safety Act and Other Related Acts” (hereinafter referred to as the “Cabinet Order for Development”) and the “Cabinet Order for Stipulating the Enforcement Date of the Act on Partially Amending the Consumer Product Safety Act and Other Related Acts” (hereinafter referred to as the “Cabinet Order for Enforcement Date”). These Cabinet Orders are to develop relevant Cabinet Orders involving the enforcement of the “Act on Partially Amending the Consumer Product Safety Act and Other Related Acts” (hereinafter referred to as the “Revised Act”) and also to stipulate the enforcement date of the Revised Act.

In addition, on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, another Cabinet Decision was made on the “Cabinet Order for Partially Amending the Order for Enforcement of the Act on the Securing of Safety and the Optimization of Transaction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.” The Cabinet Order is to newly designate portable burners for liquefied petroleum gas (also called “gas torches”) as specified liquefied petroleum gas equipment under the Act on the Securing of Safety and the Optimization of Transaction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (hereinafter referred to as the “Liquefied Gas Act”) and to regulate the sale of products that do not meet the technical

1. The Cabinet Order for Development and the Cabinet Order for Enforcement Date

(1) Background to the revision

Under the committee, Japan and Viet Nam have been discussing a wide variety of cooperation projects in the fields of industry, trade, and energy at the ministerial level. Recently, choking accidents caused by the accidental inhalation of toys have been occurring in Japan, particularly among children under the age of 3. Some international safety standards strictly stipulate rules for toys, in particular, for children under the age of 3. In light of these facts, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) decided to designate toys for infants under the age of 3 as the first toys falling under the specified products for children, a newly established category under the Revised Act that was promulgated on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. This designation is to regulate the sale of products so that products that do not meet the technical standards or products that have no indication of precautions for use, including the intended age range, may not be sold.

Along with this, METI developed some systems to newly designate infant beds, which are already subject to the regulations as special specified products, as specified products for children.

Moreover, it stipulated the enforcement date of these new systems as Thursday, December 25, 2025.

(2) Outline of the revision

(3) Future schedule

The Cabinet Order for Development

Promulgation: Friday, December 13, 2024
Enforcement: Thursday, December 25, 2025

The Cabinet Order for the Enforcement Date

Promulgation and enforcement: Friday, December 13, 2024

2. The Cabinet Order for Partially Amending the Order for Enforcement of the Act on the Securing of Safety and the Optimization of Transaction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas

(1) Background to the revision

Recently, the number of accidents caused by gas torches has been increasing in accordance with an increase in demand for cooking and outdoor activities. To address this, METI decided to designate gas torches as liquefied petroleum gas appliances, etc. and specific liquefied petroleum gas appliances, etc., as regulated items, and to restrict the sale of products that do not comply with technical standards.

The Liquefied Gas Act stipulates provisions for machines and equipment used when consuming liquefied petroleum gas, in particular stipulating products for which it is necessary to securing the safety of general consumers as liquefied petroleum gas equipment, etc. (Article 2 (7) of the Liquefied Gas Act) and stipulating products that required confirmation by an inspection organization registered by the government as specified liquefied petroleum gas equipment (Article 2 (8) of the Liquefied Gas Act).

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Picture: Example of the portable burners for liquefied petroleum gas (gas torch) subject to the regulations as described in this release (provided by the Japan Industrial Association of Gas and Kerosene Appliances)

(2) Outline of the revision

The Cabinet Order is to add the following to Appended Table 1 (liquefied petroleum gas equipment, etc.) and Appended Table 2 (specified liquefied petroleum gas equipment, etc.) under the Order for Enforcement of the Act on the Securing of Safety and the Optimization of Transaction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, which are tables designating products to be included within the category “liquefied petroleum gas equipment, etc.” and “specified liquefied petroleum gas equipment, etc.”:

“Portable burners for liquefied petroleum gas (limited to those with a structure in which users can attach a container filled with liquefied petroleum gas directly to the burner part, excluding burners with a distance of 35 cm or more between the connection to the container and the point where the flame is emitted, and burners with a screw-type connection to the container [limited to containers in which an absorbent material for liquefied petroleum gas is used or other work has been done to prevent gas leaks])”

(3) Future schedule

Promulgation: Friday, December 6, 2024
Enforcement: Thursday, February 6, 2025

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Related Materials (in Japanese)

1. The Cabinet Order for Stipulating the Enforcement Date of the Act on Partially Amending the Consumer Product Safety Act and Other Related Acts

2. The Cabinet Order for Developing Relevant Cabinet Orders Involving the Enforcement of the Act on Partially Amending the Consumer Product Safety Act and Other Related Acts

3. The Cabinet Order for Partially Amending the Order for Enforcement of the Act on the Securing of Safety and the Optimization of Transaction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Division in Charge

Product Safety Division, Industrial Safety Policy Group