Consumer Commission

A commission placed in the Cabinet Office (内閣府) (Act for Establishment of the Consumer Affairs Agency and the Consumer Commission, Article 6, paragraph (1)), of no more than ten members whom the Prime Minister appoints and who exercise their authority independently (Articles 7, 9, paragraph (1), and 10, paragraph (1)). It investigates and deliberates on important matters — among them the protection and promotion of consumers' interests, the proper regulation of premiums and representations, and prices — on its own initiative, making recommendations to the Prime Minister, the Ministers concerned or the Commissioner of the Consumer Affairs Agency, and when one of them consults it; and it deals with the matters that the Acts Article 6, paragraph (2), item (iv) lists give it (Article 6, paragraph (2), items (i), (ii) and (iv)). Under the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, the Prime Minister must hear its opinion before designating what counts as a premium or a representation, or restricting or banning premiums (Articles 3 and 6); under the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions, the Minister in charge must consult it before drafting certain Cabinet Orders (政令) (Article 64).