Subject: [cwj 28] Japan's Largest Economic Lobby Asks Government for New Deregulation Measures
From: "Olivier Hoedeman" <paxaran@antenna.nl>
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 10:38:29 +0200
Seq: 28

International Trade Reporter

Volume 17 Number 21 Thursday, May 25, 2000 Page 812 ISSN 
1523-2816 Asia/Pacific Rim

Trade Policy 

Japan's Largest Economic Lobby Asks Government for New 
Deregulation Measures


TOKYO--Member firms of Keidanren (the Federation of Economic 
Organizations of Japan), Japan's largest economic lobby, have 
asked that Japan implement new deregulation actions in the 
information technology field, including relaxation of requirements for 
Internet and mail order retailing, pharmaceutical sales, and job 
placement, according to a recent questionnaire.

A Keidanren spokesman said the organization has not decided 
when it will publicly release the results of the questionnaire that 
was conducted in early April. The questionnaire was completed by 
60 leading member companies and organizations.

Keidanren sources said that the deregulation measures the 
members sought included:

relaxing requirements governing contracts for travel services and 
the issuance and confirmation of receipt by customers via e-mail 
and other electronic means;

authorizing e-mail notification of merchandise delivery times and dates to=
 consumers;

lifting the ban on lottery prizes to public at large via mail order and e-=
mail sales Internet sites;

relaxing requirements that fee-based private job placement 
agencies have office facilities and allow them to operate as Internet 
job placement services;

relaxing standards requiring that pharmaceutical products be sold 
by pharmacists in face-to-face transactions with customers;

approving the right to send shareholder meeting notices via e-mail 
and other electronic methods;

lifting of restrictions on mail order and Internet sales of alcoholic 
beverages;

promoting Internet auctions of antiques and used goods;

lifting the ban on order placement to subcontractors using 
electronic methods;

allowing electronic filing of tax-related documents and storage;

allowing electronic submission of export- and import-related 
documents; and

establishing electronic bidding systems for public works projects.


By Toshio Aritake


Copyright =A9 2000 by The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., 
Washington D.C.

********************************** 
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is 
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior 
interest in receiving the included information for research and 
educational purposes.


****************

Olivier Hoedeman
Corporate Europe Observatory
Paulus Potterstraat 20
1071 DA Amsterdam
Netherlands
tel/fax: +31-20-612-7023
e-mail: <ceo@xs4all.nl>
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ceo
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