November 27, 2024 Results of the Solicitation for Opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance Partially Amending the Radio Equipment Regulations (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft Ministerial Ordinance"), and the Report from the Radio Regulatory Council

 To make institutional improvement for introducing tolerances for absorbed power density, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) solicited opinions on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance. The opinion solicitation was conducted from Thursday, September 26, 2024, to Friday, October 25, 2024, and seven opinions were submitted.
 Based on the results of the opinion solicitation, the MIC consulted the Radio Regulatory Council, chaired by SASASE Iwao, Professor Emeritus of Keio University, regarding the appropriateness of the Draft Ministerial Ordinance. Today, the MIC received a report stating that the Draft Ordinance is appropriate.

1. Background

 The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has established guideline values for radio wave strength that does not affect the human body in the form of radio wave protection guidelines and has incorporated some of these values into the Radio Act, thereby ensuring the safe use of radio waves in Japan. Guideline values and evaluation methods for protecting the human body from radio waves emitted from nearby radio equipment must also be established based on the latest scientific knowledge in alignment with international trends to ensure appropriate protection of the human body.
 On April 9, 2024, the MIC received a partial report from the Information and Communications Council, chaired by ENDO Nobuhiro, Special Advisor to NEC Corporation, regarding the "Introduction of Tolerances for Absorbed Power Density." This report is part of Consultation No. 2035, dated December 13, 2013, titled "Best Practices Guidelines for Radio Wave Protection." It states that the guideline values for absorbed power density apply to frequency bands above 6 GHz. For the method for measuring absorbed power density in the frequency bands above 6 GHz and below 10 GHz, the MIC also received a partial report titled "Method for Measuring Absorbed Power Density between 6 GHz and 10 GHz." This report is part of Consultation No. 2042 dated April 25, 2018, titled "Evaluation Methods Using Power Density for Mobile Phone Terminals."
 To make institutional enhancements based on these reports, the MIC has prepared the Draft Ministerial Ordinance and solicited opinions from Thursday, September 26, 2024, to Friday, October 25, 2024.

2. Report from the Radio Regulatory Council regarding the Draft Ministerial Ordinance

 Based on the results of the opinion solicitation on the Draft Ministerial Ordinance, we consulted the Radio Regulatory Council regarding the Ordinance. Today, we received a report stating that it is appropriate.

3. Upcoming schedule

 The MIC plans to promptly revise the relevant provisions based on the results of the opinion solicitation and the report from the Radio Regulatory Council.