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(...) Japan continues to maintain subsidies and other assistance programmes; a significant share of the programmes is dedicated to regional development efforts for areas recovering from the tsunami and nuclear disaster.

Japan's total energy consumption declined during the period partly due to an increase in energy efficiency and a decline in the overall energy demand. (...)

Table 2.1 Major trade-related laws and regulations, June 2016
Legislation Most recent amendment
Services and energy
Law Concerning the Measures by Large Scale Retail Stores for Preservation of the Living Environment (1998 Law No. 91) 2000
(...)

As stipulated in Article 1.3 of the TFA, Japan maintains the following enquiry points:
(...)
• the Environmental Policy Division in METI for issues related to the Basel Convention; and
• the Waste Management and Recycling Department in the Ministry of the Environment and Local Environment Offices in each prefecture for environmental issues.

Imports of certain goods are prohibited under Article 69-11 of Japan's Customs Law. Imports of narcotics, certain weapons, and animals or plants listed in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) may be prohibited or subject to import licensing requirements for reasons of national security, safeguarding consumer health and well-being, and preserving domestic plant and animal life and the environment. Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act governs import licensing procedures. (...)

At present, products that require import approval or are prohibited include: certain marine products, certain medicines and chemical products, propellant powders, nuclear goods, weapons, wild animals and plants, substances that deplete the ozone layer, specified hazardous wastes, certain chemical weapons production materials, alcohol, rough diamonds, cultural property illegally removed from Iraq, all goods from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and weapons and other items from the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and Eritrea, and Charcoal from Somalia, and chemical weapons and other items related to chemical weapons programme and cultural property illegally moved from Syrian Arab Republic, as per United Nations Security Council Resolution. Licences to import are issued free of cost. Japan amended the Customs Law in March 2015; the amendment added the products designated under Article 2, paragraph 15 of the Law on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Products including Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices to the list of items subject to import prohibition. In a 2016 amendment of the Customs Law, Japan added goods produced through the use of unlawfully obtained trade secrets (as stipulated by the Unfair Competition Prevention Act) to the list of items subject to import prohibition.

Japan uses quantitative restrictions on imports (import quotas); according to the authorities, the quotas adhere to the WTO Agreements. Products subject to import quotas (unchanged since 2007) include: certain fish products and controlled substances listed in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Japan has in place a system of prior confirmation to collect data on certain imports. The system is intended to ensure that these imports are for specific uses, and to verify documentation and origin requirements. Prior confirmation is required from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, or the relevant minister. The system is used, inter alia, for goods where fraudulent declarations have been found in the past or for goods deemed to be at high risk for fraud. These include: vaccines of microbial origin for experimental use; specified foreign cultural property; tuna; swordfish; whales; poppy and hemp seeds; certain substances listed in the Montreal Protocol; radioisotopes; diamonds; and various other chemicals.

Table 3.4 Principal legislation affecting exports
Legislation First passed Last amended Purpose
Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 1992 2014 Provides the legal basis for the Minister of the Environment to draft guidelines on conservation of endangered species, the requirement to have approval for international trade, and other measures for their protection
(...)

Japan maintains export controls for security, conservation, and humanitarian reasons. Most of the products in the lists of goods appended to the Export Trade Control Order and the lists of technologies appended to the Foreign Exchange Order are related to Japan's international commitments (such as CITES and the Chemical Weapons Convention) or its participation in non binding arrangements (...)