January 15, 2021 Appeal for Opinions on Draft Ordinance Etc. for Partial Revisions to Regulations for Enforcement of Postal Act and Ordinance for Enforcement of the Act on Letter Service by Private Business Operators

The Act on Partial Amendments to the Postal Act and the Act on Letter Service by Private Business Operators was promulgated on December 4, 2020 (Act No. 70 of 2020). In response to this promulgation and to make institutional development, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) drafted an ordinance that will partially revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Postal Act (MIC ordinance No. 5 of 2003) and the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Act on Letter Service by Private Business Operators (MIC Ordinance No. 27 of 2003) and an official directive that will partially revise the Examination Standards related to Letter Service by Private Business Operators (MIC Directive No. 9 of 2003).
Accordingly, MIC will make an appeal for opinions on these drafts from Saturday, January 16 through Monday, February 15, 2021.

1. Background and outline of the revision

With consideration of changes in the social environment, such as progress in digitalization and work style reforms, and changes in needs for mail, MIC submitted a bill for the Act Partially Amending the Postal Act and the Act on Letter Service by Private Business Operators to the 203rd Diet Session. The bill was drafted to provide stable postal services in the future with a review of the delivery frequency and delivery days of regular mail (letters, postcards, etc.). The bill passed on November 27, 2020, and then promulgated on December 4 of the same year (Act No. 70 of 2020, hereafter referred to as the “Revised Act”).
To make further institutional development in response to the enforcement of the Revised Act, MIC drafted the ordinance that will partially revise the Regulations for Enforcement of the Postal Act and the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Act on Letter Service by Private Business Operators and the official directive that will partially revise the Examination Standards related to Letter Service by Private Business Operators.

2. Procedure of appeal for opinions

1. Subject

• Draft Ordinance for Partial Revisions to Regulations for Enforcement of Postal Act and Ordinance for Enforcement of the Act on Letter Service by Private Business Operators
• Official Directive for Partial Revisions to Examination Standards related to Letter Service by Private Business Operators

2. Period of submission

From Saturday, January 16 through Monday, February 15, 2021 (Opinions submitted by mail must also arrive no later than the deadline date.)

3. Future plans

Considering opinions submitted and the report from the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council in response to MIC’s inquiry, MIC will revise the ordinance etc.

4. How to obtain references

MIC will post reference information on this matter on the public comment page of the e-Gov (https://www.e-gov.go.jp/en/ ).