August 31, 2022 Results of Solicitation of Opinions concerning Draft Cabinet Orders/Ministerial Orders for the Partial Amendment to the Regulation for Enforcement of the Act for Implementation of the Mutual Recognition between Japan and Foreign States in Relation to Results of Conformity Assessment Procedures of Specified Equipment

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) solicited opinions from Thursday, July 14, through Friday, August 12, 2022, on the draft cabinet orders/ministerial orders concerning the partial amendment to the Regulation for Enforcement of the Act for Implementation of the Mutual Recognition between Japan and Foreign States in Relation to Results of Conformity Assessment Procedures of Specified Equipment, which were prepared as part of efforts to build domestic frameworks in connection with the execution of the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Japan for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
As a result, one opinion was submitted. Accordingly, MIC and METI disclose the submitted opinion along with the ministries' views on the opinion to the public.
Based on this result, MIC and METI will promptly implement the institutional development of relevant regulations.

1. Background

Japan has entered into agreements with foreign states for the mutual recognition of the results of conformity assessment procedures of specified equipment (terminal facility, radio equipment, and electrical products), and has established domestic laws and regulations necessary for the implementation of the international agreements, such as the Act for Implementation of the Mutual Recognition between Japan and Foreign States in Relation to Results of Conformity Assessment Procedures of Specified Equipment (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "MRA Laws and Regulations"). In addition to the agreements with the European Union, the Republic of Singapore, and the United States of America, Japan executed the "Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Japan for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership" on October 23, 2020 (hereinafter referred to as the "Japan-U.K. Agreement"), which came into force from January 1, 2021. As both Japan and the U.K. are required to establish frameworks for the appropriate implementation of the Japan-U.K. Agreement, a protocol concerning the mutual recognition of specified equipment under the Japan-U.K. Agreement shall enter into force from the day separately agreed on by the two countries.
In light of this situation, in order to implement the Japan-U.K. Agreement in an appropriate way, MIC solicited opinions for draft cabinet orders/ministerial orders relating to the partial revision of the Order for Enforcement of the Act for Implementation of the Mutual Recognition between Japan and Foreign States in Relation to Results of Conformity Assessment Procedures of Specified Equipment (Cabinet Order No. 355 of 2001), including the addition of the Japan-U.K. Agreement to MRA Laws and Regulations.

2. Future schedule

Based on this result, MIC and METI will promptly implement the institutional development of relevant regulations.

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