Fair Trade Commission

The body the Act on Prohibition of Private Monopolization and Maintenance of Fair Trade (独占禁止法, the Antimonopoly Act) sets up to achieve that Act's purpose — among other things, to promote fair and free competition by banning private monopolization, unreasonable restraint of trade and unfair trade practices, and so to protect the interests of general consumers and the democratic and sound development of the national economy (Antimonopoly Act, Articles 1 and 27, paragraph (1)). It comes under the Prime Minister's jurisdiction, but its chairperson and four commissioners — appointed by the Prime Minister with the consent of both Houses of the Diet — exercise their authority independently (Articles 27, paragraph (2), 28 and 29). Under the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, businesses and trade associations may, with the approval of both the Prime Minister and the Fair Trade Commission, conclude or set agreements or rules (協定又は規約) on premiums or representations (Article 36, paragraph (1)).