Establishment of frameworks for consumer relief system and protecting their interests
Part 2 : Implementation of consumer policy
Chapter 1 : Major consumer policy at the Consumer Affairs Agency
Section 6 : Establishment of frameworks for consumer relief system and protecting their interests
A system that National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (NCAC) supports the Specified Qualified Consumer Organizations was established.
- The Consumer Organization Litigation System came into effect in 2007. The number of the injunction cases filed by the Specified Qualified Consumer Organizations is 53 (as of April 1, 2018).
- In the Act on Special Measures Concerning Civil Court Proceedings for the Collective Redress for Property Damage Incurred by Consumers (came into effect in October 2016), a Specified Qualified Consumer Organization (see Note) will act as the plaintiff to proceed with the two-stage litigation system.
- In order to achieve an even more effective system, in October 2017, it became possible for the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (NCAC) to set collateral for the provisional seizure on behalf of the Specified Qualified Consumer Organization.
(Note) Specified Qualified Consumer Organizations are qualified consumer organizations (17 organizations as of April 1st, 2018) certified by the Prime Minister as those capable of the proper performance on court proceedings for consumer damage recovery.
Revision on the Consumer Contract Act.
- Revised bills were reviewed with Consideration for the supplementary resolution by the special committees of the House of Representatives and House of Councillors in the 2016 revision, and the Consumer Commission Report (August 2017).
- A bill for partially revising the Consumer Contract Act was decided on by the Cabinet and submitted to the Diet (March 2, 2018).
- Details of the bill
- ◆ Add cancelable, unjust solicitous acts such as a "fear representation" that unfairly uses inexperience in social life
- ◆ Add voidable, unjust contract clauses such as resolutive clauses for "canceling contracts when a consumer becomes an adult ward" , etc.
Promotion of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in September 2015 with the purpose of realizing a society where "no one will be left behind." These universal goals are described to be achieved by 2030.
- The Consumer Affairs Agency is involved in the following as priority issues:
- ◆ Promotion of raising public awareness on ethical consumption
- ◆ Development of a Watch-over Network for preventing harm to consumers such as elderly people, persons with disabilities and other problems
- ◆ Expansion of the national campaign to reduce food loss "NO-FOODLOSS PROJECT"
- ◆ Development of the "Project for Child Injury Prevention"
- ◆ Consumer-oriented management.
