Chapter VI Measures to Prevent Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing
第六章 消費者被害の発生又は拡大の防止のための措置
Article 38Consumer Alerts, etc.
第三十八条（消費者への注意喚起等）
If, having been notified pursuant to Article 12, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) or pursuant to Article 29, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) or having been otherwise informed of the occurrence of an Actual or Potential Consumer-Related Incident, the Prime Minister finds it necessary to alert Consumers in order to prevent instances of harm from Actual or Potential Consumer-Related Incidents from increasing or in order to prevent the same or a similar type of Actual or Potential Consumer-Related Incident from occurring (hereinafter referred to as preventing "Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing"), the Prime Minister is to provide the prefectural and municipal governments with information about the form of the Actual or Potential Consumer-Related Incident, the extent of harm from the Actual or Potential Consumer-Related Incident, and other information to help prevent Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing, and is to disclose this information to the public.
If, having been notified pursuant to Article 12, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) or pursuant to Article 29, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) or having been otherwise informed of the occurrence of an Actual or Potential Consumer-Related Incident, the Prime Minister finds it to be appropriate to do so in order to prevent Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing, the Prime Minister may provide the Head of the Relevant Administrative Organ with information to help prevent Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing.
If the Prime Minister discloses information to the public pursuant to paragraph (1), beyond asking that measures be taken pursuant to Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act on the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, Independent Administrative Agency (Act No. 123 of 2002), the Prime Minister may ask the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan to take the necessary measures to provide Consumers with the information to help prevent Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing which is referred to in paragraph (1).
内閣総理大臣は、第一項の規定による公表をした場合においては、独立行政法人国民生活センター法（平成十四年法律第百二十三号）第四十四条第一項の規定によるほか、国民生活センターに対し、第一項の消費者被害の発生又は拡大の防止に資する情報の消費者に対する提供に関し必要な措置をとることを求めることができる。
The provisions of Article 44, paragraph (2) of the Act on the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, Independent Administrative Agency apply mutatis mutandis to a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph.
独立行政法人国民生活センター法第四十四条第二項の規定は、前項の場合について準用する。
Article 39Requests to Implement Measures Based on the Provisions of Any Other Law
第三十九条（他の法律の規定に基づく措置の実施に関する要求）
If there are measures based on any other law that can be taken to prevent Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing, and if, having been notified pursuant to Article 12, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) or pursuant to Article 29, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) or having been otherwise informed of the occurrence of an Actual or Potential Consumer-Related Incident, the Prime Minister finds it to be necessary to promptly implement those measures in order to prevent Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing, the Prime Minister may ask the minister with jurisdiction over the administrative processes involved in the implementation of those measures to promptly implement those measures.
After asking for the prompt implementation of measures pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister may ask the minister referred to in that paragraph to report on the status of the measures' implementation.
Article 40Issuing Admonitions and Orders to Enterprises
第四十条（事業者に対する勧告及び命令）
If an Actual or Potential Serious Accident occurs because a good or product or a service is not Safe to Use (except when there are measures based on the provisions of any other law that can be taken to prevent instances of harm from Actual or Potential Serious Accidents from increasing or to prevent Actual or Potential Serious Accidents with the same cause from occurring (hereinafter referred to as "Instances of Serious Bodily Harm from Occurring or Increasing")), and the Prime Minister finds it necessary to do so in order to prevent Instances of Serious Bodily Harm from Occurring or Increasing, the Prime Minister may admonish an Enterprise that supplies or provides the good or product (including any good or product sharing the part, manufacturing method, or other feature that caused the relevant good or product not to be Safe to Use; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) or the service, or that allows Consumers to use it, to effect the necessary servicing, repairs, remodeling, labeling for safe methods of use, or improvements in the way the service is provided, and to take any other necessary measures with respect to the good or product or the service.
内閣総理大臣は、商品等又は役務が消費安全性を欠くことにより重大事故等が発生した場合（当該重大事故等による被害の拡大又は当該重大事故等とその原因を同じくする重大事故等の発生（以下「重大生命身体被害の発生又は拡大」という。）の防止を図るために実施し得る他の法律の規定に基づく措置がある場合を除く。）において、重大生命身体被害の発生又は拡大の防止を図るため必要があると認めるときは、当該商品等（当該商品等が消費安全性を欠く原因となった部品、製造方法その他の事項を共通にする商品等を含む。以下この項において同じ。）又は役務を供給し、提供し、又は利用に供する事業者に対し、当該商品等又は役務につき、必要な点検、修理、改造、安全な使用方法の表示、役務の提供の方法の改善その他の必要な措置をとるべき旨を勧告することができる。
If an Enterprise that has been issued an admonishment under the preceding paragraph fails to take the measures as admonished, is without a legitimate reason for failing to do so, and the Prime Minister finds it particularly necessary in order to prevent Instances of Serious Bodily Harm from Occurring or Increasing, the Prime Minister may order the Enterprise to take the measures as admonished.
内閣総理大臣は、前項の規定による勧告を受けた事業者が、正当な理由がなくてその勧告に係る措置をとらなかった場合において、重大生命身体被害の発生又は拡大の防止を図るため特に必要があると認めるときは、当該事業者に対し、その勧告に係る措置をとるべきことを命ずることができる。
If the Prime Minister finds that an order as referred to in the preceding paragraph is no longer necessary because it has become possible to take measures based on the provisions of any other law so as to prevent Instances of Serious Bodily Harm from Occurring or Increasing or due to any other circumstances, the Prime Minister is to change or rescind the order under that paragraph.
内閣総理大臣は、重大生命身体被害の発生又は拡大の防止を図るために他の法律の規定に基づく措置が実施し得るに至ったことその他の事由により前項の命令の必要がなくなったと認めるときは、同項の規定による命令を変更し、又は取り消すものとする。
If Circumstances Financially Damaging to a Great Number of Consumers occur (except when there are measures based on the provisions of any other law that can be taken to prevent instances of harm from the Circumstances Financially Damaging to a Great Number of Consumers from increasing or to prevent the same or a similar type of Circumstances Financially Damaging to a Great Number of Consumers from occurring (hereinafter referred to as "Instances of Harm from Circumstances That Are Financially Damaging to a Great Number of Consumers from Occurring or Increasing" in this Article)) and the Prime Minister finds it necessary to do so in order to prevent Instances of Harm from Circumstances That Are Financially Damaging to a Great Number of Consumers from Occurring or Increasing, the Prime Minister may admonish the Enterprise that caused the Circumstances Financially Damaging to a Great Number of Consumers to occur to cease and desist the unfair dealings that are prejudicial to the financial interests of the Consumer or to take other necessary measures.
内閣総理大臣は、多数消費者財産被害事態が発生した場合（当該多数消費者財産被害事態による被害の拡大又は当該多数消費者財産被害事態と同種若しくは類似の多数消費者財産被害事態の発生（以下この条において「多数消費者財産被害事態による被害の発生又は拡大」という。）の防止を図るために実施し得る他の法律の規定に基づく措置がある場合を除く。）において、多数消費者財産被害事態による被害の発生又は拡大の防止を図るため必要があると認めるときは、当該多数消費者財産被害事態を発生させた事業者に対し、消費者の財産上の利益を侵害することとなる不当な取引の取りやめその他の必要な措置をとるべき旨を勧告することができる。
If an Enterprise that has been issued an admonishment pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph fails to take the measures as admonished, is without a legitimate reason for failing to do so, and the Prime Minister finds it particularly necessary in order to prevent Instances of Harm from Circumstances That Are Financially Damaging to a Great Number of Consumers from Occurring or Increasing, the Prime Minister may order the Enterprise to take the measures as admonished.
内閣総理大臣は、前項の規定による勧告を受けた事業者が、正当な理由がなくてその勧告に係る措置をとらなかった場合において、多数消費者財産被害事態による被害の発生又は拡大の防止を図るため特に必要があると認めるときは、当該事業者に対し、その勧告に係る措置をとるべきことを命ずることができる。
If the Prime Minister finds that an order as referred to in the preceding paragraph is no longer necessary because it has become possible to take measures based on the provisions of any other law so as to prevent Instances of Harm from Circumstances That Are Financially Damaging to a Great Number of Consumers from Occurring or Increasing or due to any other circumstances, the Prime Minister is to change or rescind the order under that paragraph.
内閣総理大臣は、多数消費者財産被害事態による被害の発生又は拡大の防止を図るために他の法律の規定に基づく措置が実施し得るに至ったことその他の事由により前項の命令の必要がなくなったと認めるときは、同項の規定による命令を変更し、又は取り消すものとする。
Before issuing an order under the provisions of paragraph (2) or paragraph (5) or changing or rescinding an order under the provisions of paragraph (3) or the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister must hear the opinions of the Consumer Commission.
Upon issuing an order under paragraph (2) or paragraph (5) or changing or rescinding an order under paragraph (3) or paragraph (6), the Prime Minister must disclose this to the public.
Article 41Prohibitions and Restrictions on Transferring
第四十一条（譲渡等の禁止又は制限）
If an Actual or Potential Serious Accident has occurred because a good or product is not Safe to Use, and there is imminent danger of instances of harm from that Actual or Potential Serious Accident increasing or imminent danger of an Actual or Potential Serious Accident with the same cause occurring (except when there are measures based on the provisions of any other law that can be taken to prevent Instances of Serious Bodily Harm from Occurring or Increasing), and the Prime Minister finds it particularly necessary to do so in order to prevent Instances of Serious Bodily Harm from Occurring or Increasing, the Prime Minister may designate a period of up to six months in which persons are prohibited or restricted from transferring or delivering the good or product (including any good or product sharing the part, manufacturing method, or other feature that caused the relevant good or product not to be Safe to Use) or using it in their services as their business or to further their business, within the necessary limits.
内閣総理大臣は、商品等が消費安全性を欠くことにより重大事故等が発生し、かつ、当該重大事故等による被害が拡大し、又は当該重大事故等とその原因を同じくする重大事故等が発生する急迫した危険がある場合（重大生命身体被害の発生又は拡大の防止を図るために実施し得る他の法律の規定に基づく措置がある場合を除く。）において、重大生命身体被害の発生又は拡大を防止するため特に必要があると認めるときは、必要な限度において、六月以内の期間を定めて、当該商品等（当該商品等が消費安全性を欠く原因となった部品、製造方法その他の事項を共通にする商品等を含む。）を事業として又は事業のために譲渡し、引き渡し、又は役務に使用することを禁止し、又は制限することができる。
If the Prime Minister finds that the prohibition or restriction referred to in the preceding paragraph is no longer necessary because it has become possible to take measures based on the provisions of any other law so as to prevent Instances of Serious Bodily Harm from Occurring or Increasing or due to other circumstances, the Prime Minister is to cancel all or part of the prohibition or restriction under that paragraph.
内閣総理大臣は、重大生命身体被害の発生又は拡大の防止を図るために他の法律の規定に基づく措置が実施し得るに至ったことその他の事由により前項の禁止又は制限の必要がなくなったと認めるときは、同項の規定による禁止又は制限の全部又は一部を解除するものとする。
Before implementing a prohibition or restriction under paragraph (1) or cancelling all or part of a prohibition or restriction under the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister must hear the opinions of the Consumer Commission.
A prohibition or restriction under paragraph (1), or the cancellation of all or part of a prohibition or restriction under paragraph (2) is implemented through the issuance of public notice in the Official Gazette, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Office Order.
第四十二条（回収等の命令）
If an Enterprise violates a prohibition or restriction under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the Prime Minister may order the Enterprise to recall the goods or products it has transferred or delivered in violation of the prohibition or restriction, and to take any other measures that are necessary to prevent the relevant good or product from causing Instances of Serious Bodily Harm from Occurring or Increasing.
内閣総理大臣は、事業者が前条第一項の規定による禁止又は制限に違反した場合においては、当該事業者に対し、禁止又は制限に違反して譲渡し、又は引き渡した商品又は製品の回収を図ることその他当該商品等による重大生命身体被害の発生又は拡大を防止するため必要な措置をとるべきことを命ずることができる。
Article 43Recommendations by the Consumer Commission
第四十三条（消費者委員会の勧告等）
If the Consumer Commission finds it necessary to do so in light of information it has obtained from a Consumer or Enterprise, the head of a relevant administrative organ, or another party, or in light of other information about an Actual or Potential Consumer-Related Incident, it may make the necessary recommendations to the Prime Minister for preventing Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing.
消費者委員会は、消費者、事業者、関係行政機関の長その他の者から得た情報その他の消費者事故等に関する情報を踏まえて必要があると認めるときは、内閣総理大臣に対し、消費者被害の発生又は拡大の防止に関し必要な勧告をすることができる。
After making a recommendation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Consumer Commission may ask the Prime Minister to report on the measures taken based on the recommendation.
消費者委員会は、前項の規定により勧告をしたときは、内閣総理大臣に対し、その勧告に基づき講じた措置について報告を求めることができる。
Article 44Requests from the Prefectural Governors
第四十四条（都道府県知事による要請）
If a prefectural governor finds it necessary to do so in order to prevent Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing within the prefectural territory, the governor may request that the Prime Minister implement the necessary measures to Ensure Consumer Safety. To do so, the prefectural governor must include a document that gives the details of and reasons for the measures being requested.
都道府県知事は、当該都道府県の区域内における消費者被害の発生又は拡大の防止を図るため必要があると認めるときは、内閣総理大臣に対し、消費者安全の確保に関し必要な措置の実施を要請することができる。この場合においては、当該要請に係る措置の内容及びその理由を記載した書面を添えなければならない。
If the Prime Minister receives a request under the provisions of the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as a "Request for Measures" in this Article) but there are measures based on the provisions of any other law that can be taken to prevent Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing, the Prime Minister must pass along the document referred to in the preceding paragraph to the minister with jurisdiction over the administrative processes involved in the implementation of those measures.
内閣総理大臣は、前項の規定による要請（以下この条において「措置要請」という。）を受けた場合において、消費者被害の発生又は拡大の防止を図るために実施し得る他の法律の規定に基づく措置があるときは、当該措置の実施に関する事務を所掌する大臣に同項の書面を回付しなければならない。
The minister to whom a document is passed along pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must notify the Prime Minister without delay upon deciding to implement measures that put into effect all or part of the substance of the measures requested in the Request for Measures; and must notify the Prime Minister without delay and give the reasons therefor upon deciding that it is unnecessary to implement measures that put into effect all or part of the substance of the measures requested in the Request for Measures.
On being notified pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister must notify the prefectural governor making the Request for Measures of the substance of the notification without delay.
Article 45Reports and On-Site Investigations
第四十五条（報告、立入調査等）
The Prime Minister, within the scope that is necessary for the enforcement of this Act, may ask an Enterprise to make any necessary report, and may have the relevant officials enter the office, place of business, or other place at which an Enterprise does business; have those officials conduct the necessary investigations or ask the necessary questions; or collect objects that an Enterprise supplies within the scope of what is necessary for an investigation; provided, however, that the market value must be paid for any objects the Prime Minister has the officials collect.
内閣総理大臣は、この法律の施行に必要な限度において、事業者に対し、必要な報告を求め、その職員に、当該事業者の事務所、事業所その他その事業を行う場所に立ち入り、必要な調査若しくは質問をさせ、又は調査に必要な限度において当該事業者の供給する物品を集取させることができる。ただし、物品を集取させるときは、時価によってその対価を支払わなければならない。
The provisions of Article 11-24, paragraphs (2) and (3) apply mutatis mutandis to the case as referred to in the preceding paragraph.
第十一条の二十四第二項及び第三項の規定は、前項の場合について準用する。
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
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
Actual or Potential Serious Accident
「重大事故等」
An accident in which a consumer suffers harm to life or body that a Cabinet Order (政令) treats as serious, or a situation in which something not safe to use was used that a Cabinet Order treats as likely to cause such an accident.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (7)· applies throughout the law
Circumstances Financially Damaging to a Great Number of Consumersmachine translation
「多数消費者財産被害事態」
A situation under Article 2, paragraph (5), item (iii) in which a business (事業者) deals with consumers unfairly and against their financial interests, by presenting the goods, services, rights or terms of the deal as significantly different from what they are or in another way a Cabinet Order (政令) sets, so that the property of many consumers is or may be damaged.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (8)· 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)
the Head of the Relevant Administrative Organ
「関係行政機関の長等」
In Article 14, Article 35 and Article 38, paragraph (2), the heads of the relevant administrative bodies and local governments, the president of the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (国民生活センター), and others concerned.
Short name set inArticle 14, paragraph (1)· applies only in this provision and in Article 35; and Article 38, paragraph (2)
Instances of Harm to Consumers from Occurring or Increasing
「消費者被害の発生又は拡大」
Harm from an actual or potential consumer-related incident (消費者事故等) spreading, or the same or a similar incident happening.
Short name set inArticle 38, paragraph (1)
Instances of Serious Bodily Harm from Occurring or Increasingmachine translation
「重大生命身体被害の発生又は拡大」
Harm from an actual or potential serious accident (重大事故等) spreading, or another serious accident with the same cause happening.
Short name set inArticle 40, paragraph (1)
Instances of Harm from Circumstances That Are Financially Damaging to a Great Number of Consumers from Occurring or Increasingmachine translation
「多数消費者財産被害事態による被害の発生又は拡大」
In Article 40, harm from a situation damaging the property of many consumers (多数消費者財産被害事態) spreading, or the same or a similar situation arising.
Short name set inArticle 40, paragraph (4)· applies only in this article
Request for Measures
「措置要請」
In Article 44, a prefectural governor's request to the Prime Minister to take measures needed for consumer safety, to prevent harm to consumers in the prefecture from arising or spreading.
Short name set inArticle 44, paragraph (2)· applies only in this article
Consumer Commission
消費者委員会
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).
Written by AI using Act for Establishment of the Consumer Affairs Agency and the Consumer Commission, Arts. 6, 7, 9, 10, Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, Arts. 3, 6 and Act on Specified Commercial Transactions, Art. 64 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.