JAPAN: RATIONAL USE OF ENERGY The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif. 95.358. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: JAPAN. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2). 2. Agency responsible: Ministry of International Trade and Industry. 3. Notified under Article 2.9.2. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Video tape recorders (HS:8521.10). 5. Title and number of pages of the notified document: Amendment to Enforcement Ordinance for the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy and Issuance of Ministerial Notice (available in Japanese, 3 pages). 6. Description of content: Based on the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy, the video tape recorders will be designated as a ``Designated Machinery'' and be subject to the provisions of the above-mentioned Notice concerning indication of energy consumption efficiency of machinery and equipment. The ways to assess energy consumption efficiency of the video tape recorder and the methods of indication will be provided in the Notice. 7. Objective and rationale: To promote energy conservation through wider use of machinery and equipment whose energy consumption efficiency is high, in order to cope with the recent increase of energy consumption in household-service sectors, global warming problems, and so on. 8. Relevant documents: The basic law is the Law Concerning the Rationale Use of Energy. The said amendment will appear in ``KAMPO'' (Official Government Gazette) when adopted. 9. Proposed date of adoption and entry into force: February 1996. 10. Final date for comments: 19 February 1996. (024)

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