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Personal information protection system

The Act on the Protection of Personal Information sets forth basic principles on protection of personal information as well as rules for the handling of personal information to be adhered to by private-sector entities.

Aspiring to build a society where personal information is utilized sensibly while being protected appropriately, the Consumer Affairs Agency is engaging in knowledge-promoting and education activities intended to deepen the understanding

of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information.

Further the Consumer Affairs Agency has set up the "Act on the Protection of Personal Information Inquiry Dial" as a contact point to provide answers to questions in relation to interpretations and other matters concerning the "Act on the Protection of Personal Information" and has also made various resources available on its Personal Information Protection System Website.

Whistleblower protection system

I n q u i t e a n u m b e r o f i n s t a n c e s , a c a s e o f c o r p o r a t e misconduct that compromises consumer safety comes into the open as a result of someone working for them reporting it. The whistleblower protection system is a means to protect whistleblowers so that they should not be subjected to dismissal, demotion or other disadvantageous treatment on the grounds that they reported the case and also to ensure, by setting forth things like what measures should be taken by businesses in relation to whistleblowing, that laws and regulations associated with consumer safety and interests

should be adhered to.

The Consumer Affairs Agency has developed and released to the public a handbook that describes the system and guidelines and other information that can be helpful for businesses and governmental bodies to establish and administer a pertinent structure.

We have also set up the "Whistleblower Protection System Consultation Dial" as a contact point for consultation about the system and has also made various resources available on its Whistleblower Protection System Webpage.

Act on the Protection of Personal Information Inquiry Dial

Phone: 03-3507-9160

(from 9:30 to12:00 and from 13:00 to17:30 on weekdays)

Personal Information Protection System Website

http://www.caa.go.jp/planning/kojin/

Whistleblower Protection System Consultation Dial

Phone: 03-3507-9262

(from 9:30 to12:00 and from 13:00 to17:30 on weekdays)

Whistleblower Protection System Webpage

http://www.caa.go.jp/planning/koueki

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We have more and more tasks to do at the Consumer Affairs AgencyWe have more and more tasks to do at the Consumer Affairs Agency

8 Addressing harm to consumers in the course of Internet-based transactions

Consumer transactions with the use of the Internet are enjoying remarkable growth and advancement, which, however, come with an increasing number of problems like scams and personal information leakage. As problems involving transactions on the Internet are characterized by rapid changes in technology and service and by a diverse range of stakeholders, they require not only legal control but also the mutually complementary orchestration between voluntary efforts made by businesses and actions taken on the part of consumers themselves.

Thus, with the aim of sharing issues and encouraging stakeholders to take action, the Consumer Affairs Agency regularly organizes an "Internet-Based Consumer Transaction

Liaison Meeting," attended by relevant governmental bodies, trade associations, consumer organizations and others, to provide a venue for exchanges of information and inputs. Cases of consumer trouble are also on the rise in the area of overseas shopping, which is now easier to do as a result of the more widespread and increasing use of the Internet. Accordingly, the Consumer Affairs Agency is working hard to bring forth an environment that will allow consumers peace of mind in overseas shopping by informing consumers of what the consumers should be careful about so as to avoid trouble and by working on the development of an international network hand in hand with consumer advisory groups overseas.

Efforts to reduce food waste

Of approximately 17 million tons of food waste that is generated annually in Japan, so-called "food loss," i.e., food that, though good to eat, gets thrown out, is estimated to amount to approximately 5 million to 8 million tons (estimates for FY2010).

About half of the food loss is generated by general households and comes largely from excessive disposal of eatable portions, foods disposal from expired use-by or best-before date and leftovers.

An estimated amount of food loss generated per household member reaches as much as about 15 kg per year, which is equivalent to 60 meals.

The Consumer Affairs Agency has launched knowledge- promoting and education campaigns to have consumers understand things like the importance of reducing food loss and to develop a better understanding and actions from a mottainai ("a shame to waste it") point of view.

Matters concerning the Great East Japan Earthquake:

http://www.caa.go.jp/jisin/

NO-FOODLOSS Project logo "Loss-Non"

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Matters concerning the Great East Japan Earthquake:

http://www.caa.go.jp/jisin/

URL: http://www.caa.go.jp/representation/index.html#m05

Boosting consumers' understanding around radioactive substances in food

The nuclear power plant accidents that resulted from the Great East Japan Earthquake have generated considerable concerns about food safety in the minds of consumers and have also given rise to harmful rumors about produce from areas stricken by the disaster. The Consumer Affairs Agency supplies accurate information to consumers through the leaﬂet

"Food and Radiation Q&A," on its website and by other means and also organizes symposia, etc. in various locations as venues where consumers can have opportunities to discuss the matter with experts. In addition to these efforts, we provided training for consumer affairs consultants, health

nurses, nutritionists, nursery teachers, school lunch staff, JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives) employees, etc. during FY2013, which was done especially for the purpose of developing experts (communicators) capable of supplying accurate information in their community.

On another front, we rent out radioactive substance testing instruments to local governments in cooperation with the independent administrative agency National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan in order that residents should be able to test, with their own hands, radioactive substances contained in food to ensure safety.

URL: http://www.caa.go.jp/representation/index.html#m05

supplies accurate information to consumers through the leaﬂet

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URL: http://www.caa.go.jp/representation/index.html#m05

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The Act of Special Measures for the Practice of Passing Consumption Tax on to Counterparties, the purpose of which is to ensure that consumption taxes can be passed smoothly and appropriately on to counterparties, came into effect on October 1, 2013.

Under this Act, the Consumer Affairs Agency can enforce regulations pertaining to advertisements or any other

representations that are liable to mislead consumers concerning the consumption tax burden. The Agency has also made relevant resources available on its website, such as a guideline on the Act and a brochure that contains an explanation of measures for the practice of passing on the consumption tax.

Special Measures for Representations Impeding the Practice of Passing Consumption Tax on to Counterparties

We have set up the "Opportunistic Markup Information and Consultation Desk" (with a dedicated phone number) in order to collect consumers' tips and give advices to them regarding opportunistic markups cases from the consumption tax increase.

In order to keep even more detailed track of commodity price

movements, we have also raised the number of items subject to our commodity price monitor survey (from 25 items to 40 items) as well as the number of monitors (from 2,000 surveyors to 4,000 surveyors), effective for periods before and after the consumption tax increase (March, April and June 2014).

Addressing me-too price hikes

Opportunistic Markup Information and Consultation Desk

Phone: 03-3507-9196

(from 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays)