Section 1 Implementation of Consumer Affairs Consultations and Other Administrative Processes
第一節 消費生活相談等の事務の実施
第八条（都道府県及び市町村による消費生活相談等の事務の実施）
Prefectural governments are to perform the following administrative processes:
都道府県は、次に掲げる事務を行うものとする。
coordinating communication among municipal governments, providing necessary advice, cooperating, providing information, and giving other assistance to municipal governments in their performance of the administrative processes set forth in the items of the following paragraph;
次項各号に掲げる市町村の事務の実施に関し、市町村相互間の連絡調整及び市町村に対する必要な助言、協力、情報の提供その他の援助を行うこと。
performing the following main administrative processes for Ensuring Consumer Safety:
消費者安全の確保に関し、主として次に掲げる事務を行うこと。
handling any request for a consultation involving a Consumer complaint against an Enterprise which requires a broader perspective than that of the municipal area;
mediating any processing of a Consumer complaint against an Enterprise which requires a broader perspective than that of the municipal area;
implementing any necessary investigation or analysis to assess the status or movements of an Actual or Potential Consumer-Related Incident which requires expert knowledge and skill;
消費者事故等の状況及び動向を把握するために必要な調査又は分析であって、専門的な知識及び技術を必要とするものを行うこと。
collecting information that is necessary for Ensuring Consumer Safety from a broader perspective than that of the municipal area, and providing it to local residents.
各市町村の区域を超えた広域的な見地から、消費者安全の確保のために必要な情報を収集し、及び住民に対し提供すること。
exchanging information about the occurrence of Actual and Potential Consumer-Related Incidents with the municipal governments;
市町村との間で消費者事故等の発生に関する情報を交換すること。
coordinating communication with relevant organizations to Ensure Consumer Safety; and
消費者安全の確保に関し、関係機関との連絡調整を行うこと。
administrative processes incidental to those set forth in the preceding items.
前各号に掲げる事務に附帯する事務を行うこと。
Municipal governments are to perform the following administrative processes:
市町村は、次に掲げる事務を行うものとする。
handling requests for consultations involving Consumer complaints against Enterprises in order to Ensure Consumer Safety;
mediation for the settlement of Consumer complaints against Enterprises in order to Ensure Consumer Safety;
collecting information that is necessary for Ensuring Consumer Safety and providing it to local residents;
消費者安全の確保のために必要な情報を収集し、及び住民に対し提供すること。
exchanging information about the occurrence of Actual and Potential Consumer-Related Incidents with the prefectural governments;
都道府県との間で消費者事故等の発生に関する情報を交換すること。
coordinating communication with relevant organizations to Ensure Consumer Safety; and
消費者安全の確保に関し、関係機関との連絡調整を行うこと。
administrative processes incidental to those set forth in the preceding items.
前各号に掲げる事務に附帯する事務を行うこと。
If a municipal government deals with the administrative processes set forth in the items of the preceding paragraph in cooperation with another municipal government or entrusts another municipal government with the administrative processes, the prefectural government may conduct necessary coordination between relevant municipal governments to meet the requests from the relevant municipal governments.
都道府県は、市町村が前項各号に掲げる事務を他の市町村と共同して処理しようとする場合又は他の市町村に委託しようとする場合は、関係市町村の求めに応じ、市町村相互間における必要な調整を行うことができる。
Any of prefectural officials who engage or engaged in the administrative processes set forth in the items of paragraph (1) and municipal officials who engage or engaged in the administrative processes set forth in the items of paragraph (2) must not divulge any confidential information learned in the course of those administrative processes.
Each prefectural government may entrust part of the administrative processes set forth in paragraph (1), item (i) of the preceding Article (excluding the coordination of communication among municipal governments) and the administrative processes set forth in items (ii) to (v) of that paragraph to those who satisfy the standards provided by Cabinet Office Order as those who can carry out the administrative processes appropriately.
都道府県は、前条第一項第一号に掲げる事務（市町村相互間の連絡調整に係る部分を除く。）及び同項第二号から第五号までに掲げる事務の一部を、その事務を適切に実施することができるものとして内閣府令で定める基準に適合する者に委託することができる。
Each municipal government may entrust part of the administrative processes set forth in the items of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article to those who satisfy the standards provided by Cabinet Office Order as those who can carry out the administrative processes appropriately.
市町村は、前条第二項各号に掲げる事務の一部を、その事務を適切に実施することができるものとして内閣府令で定める基準に適合する者に委託することができる。
Any of those who have been entrusted with any administrative processes pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs, its officer or personnel, and those who formerly held those positions must not divulge any confidential information learned in the course of the administrative processes entrusted thereto.
前二項の規定により事務の委託を受けた者若しくはその役員若しくは職員又はこれらの職にあった者は、当該委託に係る事務に関して知り得た秘密を漏らしてはならない。
The national government and the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan are to provide the prefectural and municipal governments with information, train staff to engage in the relevant administrative processes, and give other necessary assistance for implementing the administrative processes set forth in the items of paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 8.
Section 2 Establishment of Consumer Affairs Centers
第二節 消費生活センターの設置等
Article 10Establishment of Consumer Affairs Centers
第十条（消費生活センターの設置）
A prefectural government must establish an institution or organization that meets the following requirements in order to perform the administrative processes set forth in the items of Article 8, paragraph (1):
都道府県は、第八条第一項各号に掲げる事務を行うため、次に掲げる要件に該当する施設又は機関を設置しなければならない。
it engages consumer affairs consultants to do the administrative processes set forth in Article 8, paragraph (1), item (ii) (a) and (b);
消費生活相談員を第八条第一項第二号イ及びロに掲げる事務に従事させるものであること。
it has the appropriate electronic data processing systems and other equipment to efficiently perform the administrative processes set forth in the items of Article 8, paragraph (1);
第八条第一項各号に掲げる事務の効率的な実施のために適切な電子情報処理組織その他の設備を備えているものであること。
it conforms to any other standard provided by Cabinet Order as being necessary to the appropriate performance of the administrative processes set forth in the items of Article 8, paragraph (1).
その他第八条第一項各号に掲げる事務を適切に行うために必要なものとして政令で定める基準に適合するものであること。
If necessary, a municipal government must endeavor to establish an institution or organization that meets the following requirements, in order to perform the administrative processes set forth in the items of Article 8, paragraph (2):
市町村は、必要に応じ、第八条第二項各号に掲げる事務を行うため、次に掲げる要件に該当する施設又は機関を設置するよう努めなければならない。
it engages consumer affairs consultants to do the administrative processes set forth in Article 8, paragraph (2), items (i) and (ii);
it has the appropriate electronic data processing systems and other equipment to efficiently perform the administrative processes set forth in the items of Article 8, paragraph (2); and
第八条第二項各号に掲げる事務の効率的な実施のために適切な電子情報処理組織その他の設備を備えているものであること。
it conforms to any other standard provided by Cabinet Order as being necessary to the appropriate performance of administrative processes set forth in the items of Article 8, paragraph (2).
その他第八条第二項各号に掲げる事務を適切に行うために必要なものとして政令で定める基準に適合するものであること。
Municipal governments other than the ones that have established the institutions or organizations set forth in the preceding paragraph pursuant to that paragraph must endeavor to employ consumer affairs consultants to engage in the administrative processes set forth in Article 8, paragraph (2), items (i) and (ii).
Article 10-2Organization and Operation of Consumer Affairs Centers
第十条の二（消費生活センターの組織及び運営等）
The prefectural government and municipal government that have established the institutions or organizations mentioned in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article must establish the following particulars in their respective ordinances:
都道府県及び前条第二項の施設又は機関を設置する市町村は、次に掲げる事項について条例で定めるものとする。
particulars regarding the organization and operation of Consumer Affairs Centers (meaning the institution or organization described in paragraph (1) or (2) of the preceding Article; the same applies in the following paragraph and Article 47, paragraph (2));
particulars regarding the safety management of information obtained in the course of the administrative processes set forth in the items of paragraph (1) or (2) of Article 8; and
other particulars provided by Cabinet Office Order.
その他内閣府令で定める事項
If the prefectural government or municipal government that has established a Consumer Affairs Center enacts an ordinance pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the prefectural government or municipal government is to refer to the standards provided by Cabinet Office Order for dealing with Consumer complaints against Enterprises appropriately and promptly.
Article 10-3Requirements for Consumer Affairs Consultants
第十条の三（消費生活相談員の要件等）
Consumer affairs consultants are to be those who have passed the qualification examination for consumer affairs consultants held by the Prime Minister or corporations registered by the Prime Minister (hereinafter referred to as "a Registered Testing Organization") or those who have been accredited by the prefectural governors or municipal mayors as those who possess expertise and skills at the same level as or a higher level than the passers of the examination.
消費生活相談員は、内閣総理大臣若しくは内閣総理大臣の登録を受けた法人（以下「登録試験機関」という。）の行う消費生活相談員資格試験に合格した者又はこれと同等以上の専門的な知識及び技術を有すると都道府県知事若しくは市町村長が認める者でなければならない。
Consumer affairs consultants must endeavor to improve their knowledge and skills related to consumer affairs consultations (meaning consultation and mediation involving a Consumer complaint against an Enterprise implemented by prefectural or municipal governments in accordance with Article 8, paragraph (1), item (ii) (a) and (b) or paragraph (2), items (i) and (ii); hereinafter the same applies), in order to adapt to the changes in business affairs due to the changes in the environment surrounding consumer affairs.
The aim of the qualification examination for consumer affairs consultants mentioned in paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as "the Exam") is to test whether examinees possess the knowledge and skills required for offering consumer affairs consultations. The subjects covered by the Exam are as follows:
subjects covering the characteristics of the goods, products and services, how they are used, and other matters on goods, products and services being Safe to Use;
subjects covering the laws and regulations for consumer administration;
消費者行政に関する法令に関する科目
subjects covering the practice of consumer affairs consultations; and
消費生活相談の実務に関する科目
other subjects provided by Cabinet Office Order.
その他内閣府令で定める科目
A person planning to take the Exam (excluding the examinations held by Registered Testing Organizations) must pay fees to the national government with a method provided by Cabinet Office Order.
Beyond what is provided for in the preceding two paragraphs, the procedures for taking the Exam and other particulars are as provided by Cabinet Office Order.
Article 10-4Designated Consumer Affairs Consultants
第十条の四（指定消費生活相談員）
The prefectural governors must endeavor to select those who can give advice, cooperate, provide information, and offer other assistance as provided in Article 8, paragraph (1), item (i) for carrying out the administrative processes of municipal governments set forth in Article 8, paragraph (2), items (i) and (ii) from consumer affairs consultants of the prefectural governments who have passed the Exam and possess the practical work experience as consumer affairs consultants provided by Cabinet Office Order, and designate those selected as designated consumer affairs consultants, in order to support municipal governments in conducting administrative processes for consumer affairs consultations.
Consumer
「消費者」
An individual, except when carrying on a commercial, industrial, financial or other business.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1)· applies throughout the law
Enterprise
「事業者」
Any person carrying on a commercial, industrial, financial or other business; an individual counts only when acting in the course of such a business.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (2)· applies throughout the law
Ensuring Consumer Safety
「消費者安全の確保」
Preventing consumers from suffering harm in their lives as consumers and keeping them safe.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (3)· applies throughout the law
Usemachine translation
「使用等」
A consumer's use of goods, products, facilities and the like (including eating or drinking them) or of services.
Short name set inArticle 2, paragraph (4)
good or product
「商品等」
Goods and products a business (事業者) supplies as its business, and objects, facilities and structures it provides or lets people use for its business or uses in providing a service as or for its business.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (4)
Safe to Usemachine translation
「消費安全性」
The safety a good, product, facility or service should normally have when a consumer uses it, judged by its characteristics, the ways it can normally be expected to be used (including eaten or drunk) and other circumstances.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (4)· applies throughout the law
Actual or Potential Consumer-Related Incident
「消費者事故等」
Any of three kinds of event: an accident in which a consumer using a business's goods, facilities or services suffers harm to life or body to the degree a Cabinet Order (政令) sets (unless it clearly was not caused by the thing being unsafe); a situation in which a consumer used something not safe to use that a Cabinet Order treats as likely to cause such an accident; or a business's false or exaggerated advertising or other conduct a Cabinet Order names that may unfairly harm consumers' interests or their free and rational choice.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (5)· applies throughout the law
the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan
「国民生活センター」
The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, an Incorporated Administrative Agency (独立行政法人).
Short name set inArticle 4, paragraph (5)
Consumer Affairs Centers
「消費生活センター」
In Article 10-2 and Article 47, paragraph (2), the facility or body that a prefecture must, and a municipality should try to, set up under Article 10 to handle consumers' complaints against businesses and the other consumer-safety work of Article 8, staffed with consumer affairs consultants (消費生活相談員).
Defined inArticle 10-2, paragraph (1), item (i)· applies only in this provision and in Article 10-2, paragraph (2); and Article 47, paragraph (2)
a Registered Testing Organization
「登録試験機関」
A corporation registered by the Prime Minister to hold the qualification examination for consumer affairs consultants (消費生活相談員資格試験).
Short name set inArticle 10-3, paragraph (1)
consumer affairs consultations
「消費生活相談」
Consultation on, and mediation of, consumers' complaints against businesses (事業者) that prefectures and municipalities carry out under Article 8.
Defined inArticle 10-3, paragraph (2)
the Exam
「試験」
The qualification examination for consumer affairs consultants (消費生活相談員資格試験) under Article 10-3, paragraph (1) of the Consumer Safety Act, which tests whether a person has the knowledge and skills needed to give consumer affairs consultations.
Short name set inArticle 10-3, paragraph (3)
Prefectural or Municipal Ordinance
条例
A rule a local government makes for itself: a prefecture (都道府県), a city, town or village (市町村), or one of Tokyo's special wards (特別区) (Local Autonomy Act, Articles 1-3, 281 and 283). Its assembly (議会), whose members the residents elect, passes it (Articles 89 and 96, paragraph (1), item (i)), and its head — the governor or the mayor (Article 139) — promulgates it, that is, makes it public so that it can take effect (Article 16). The Constitution lets local governments make them within the limits of Acts (Constitution, Article 94), and one may not go against the national laws and regulations (法令), such as Acts, Cabinet Orders (政令) and Ministerial Orders (省令) (Local Autonomy Act, Article 14, paragraph (1)). Unless national laws and regulations provide otherwise, a local government can impose a duty or restrict a right only by one of these (Article 14, paragraph (2)), and it may write into one penalties for breaking it, within limits the Local Autonomy Act sets (Article 14, paragraph (3)). It is made for that local government's own affairs (Article 2, paragraph (2) and Article 14, paragraph (1)), so the same matter can be handled differently from one place to the next. It is a local rule, not a national one: an "ordinance" in the name of a national rule, such as an Ordinance for Enforcement of an Act, is usually a Ministerial Order (省令) or another national instrument.
Written by AI using Constitution, Art. 94 and Local Autonomy Act, Arts. 1-3, 2, 14, 16, 89, 96, 139, 281, 283 as a reference.
Prime Minister
内閣総理大臣
The head of the Cabinet. Designated by the Diet from among its own members, and appointed by the Emperor on that designation (Articles 67 and 6). The Prime Minister appoints and may dismiss the other Ministers of State at will, and a majority of them must be members of the Diet (Article 68). No Minister of State can be subjected to legal action while in office without the Prime Minister's consent (Article 75).
Written by AI using Constitution, Arts. 6, 67, 68, 75 and Wikipedia: Prime Minister of Japan as a reference.