Article 1In light of the current situation whereby marine debris have a serious impact on the conservation of good coastal landscapes and environments, the purpose of this Act is to provide basic principles for measures required for the smooth treatment of marine debris and control of its generation (hereinafter referred to as ''measures against articles that drift ashore'') and to clarify the responsibilities of the national and local governments, business entities and the people of Japan, while setting out the basic policy established by the national government and other necessary matters for promoting measures against articles that drift ashore, thereby comprehensively and effectively promoting measures against articles that drift ashore to contribute to ensuring the lives of the people of Japan of both the present and future generations are healthy and cultured.

Article 2(1)The term ''articles that drift ashore ''as used in this Act means waste and other dirty items or discarded articles that drift ashore.

(2)The term ''marine debris'' as used in this Act means articles that drift ashore, waste and other dirty items or discarded articles scattered along the coast.

(3)The term ''coast manager, etc.'' as used in this Act means a coast manager as defined in Article 2, paragraph (3) of the Coast Act (Act No. 101 of 1956) and a person who manages a facility based on the provisions of other laws and regulations, who manages, based on such a person's authority or the provisions of other laws and regulations, coastal land which is owned by the national or local governments and is provided for public use.

Article 3Measures against articles that drift ashore must be taken to the effect that they contribute to conservation and restoration of the overall coastal environment, giving consideration to the conservation of good landscapes as represented by beaches with white sand and green pines and securing biological diversity in reefs, tidelands, etc.

Article 4Measures against articles that drift ashore must be taken to the effect that they clarify the responsibilities of coast managers and other parties involved in the treatment of marine debris, while promoting smooth treatment appropriate to the various characteristics and forms of marine debris.

Article 5In light of the fact that articles that drift ashore drift onto coasts via waterways that flow from the mountains to rivers and the sea, and that generation of the same reflects, in part, the public awareness of environmental conservation in Japan, measures against articles that drift ashore must give sufficient weight to effective control of the generation of articles that drift ashore with the recognition that this is a common issue not only for coastal areas, but also for all regions.

Article 6Measures against articles that drift ashore must be carried out in consideration of the fact that as a country surrounded by the sea, Japan's conservation of a good marine environment is essential for the rich and affluent life of the people.

Article 7Measures against articles that drift ashore must be taken so that active efforts by the people for the appropriate treatment of marine debris and control of its generation (hereinafter referred to as treatment, etc. of marine debris) are promoted, while raising public awareness of the Treatment, etc. of marine debris, pursuant to an appropriate division of roles among the national and local governments, business entities, the people and private organizations and with mutual coordination among such various parties.

Article 8In implementing measures against articles that drift ashore, to allow the adoption of appropriate diplomatic efforts by the national government, considering that some articles drift ashore from surrounding countries onto the coast of Japan and others drift ashore from Japan onto the coasts of surrounding countries, and based on the recognition that such problems are common issues for both Japan and its surrounding countries, sufficient attention must be paid to the promotion of international cooperation for the resolution of the relevant problems concerning articles that drift ashore.

Article 9The national government is, in accordance with the basic principles for measures against articles that drift ashore stated in Articles 3 through 8 (simply referred to as basic principles in the following Article and Article 13, paragraph (1)), responsible for formulating and implementing comprehensive policies for measures against articles that drift ashore.

Article 10Local governments are, in accordance with the basic principles, responsible for formulating and implementing policies for measures against articles that drift ashore that are suitable for the natural and social conditions of their region.

Article 11(1)Business entities must endeavor to avoid generating marine debris in their business activities and to cooperate in measures against articles that drift ashore taken by the national and local governments.

(2)The people of Japan must endeavor to deepen their interest in and understanding of the importance of measures against articles that drift ashore and to cooperate in measures against articles that drift ashore taken by the national and local governments.

(3)Business entities and the people of Japan must, by appropriately managing or disposing of their possessions or by appropriately maintaining and managing land under their possession or management, endeavor to reduce the generation of marine debris.

Article 12In light of the fact that measures against articles that drift ashore are soundly promoted when the national and local governments, business entities, the people and private organizations coordinate and cooperate with each other, not only in coastal areas but also in all regions, the national government is to formulate policies required for enhanced coordination among the relevant parties.

Article 13(1)The national government must in accordance with the basic principles, establish the basic policy for promoting measures against articles that drift ashore both comprehensively and effectively (hereinafter referred to as the basic policy in this Article and paragraph (1) of the following Article).

(2)The following matters are to be provided for in the basic policy:

(3)The Minister of the Environment must prepare a draft of the basic policy after prior consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism, and seek a Cabinet decision.

(4)The Minister of the Environment must hear in advance the general public opinion when preparing a draft of the basic policy.

(5)When the Cabinet decision is made as described in paragraph (3), the Minister of the Environment must publish the basic policy without delay.

(6)The provisions of preceding three paragraphs apply mutatis mutandis to any revision of the basic policy.

Article 14(1)If a prefecture finds it necessary for the comprehensive and effective promotion of measures against articles that drift ashore, it is to prepare, based on the basic policy, either independently or with other prefectures, a plan for promoting measures against articles that drift ashore (hereinafter referred to as a regional plan in this Article and paragraph (2), item (i) of the following Article).

(2)The following matters are to be provided for in regional plans:

(3)If a prefecture intends to prepare its regional plan, it is to take necessary measures to reflect the opinions of residents and other interested parties in advance.

(4)If a prefecture intends to prepare its regional plan it must hear the opinions of relevant local governments and coast managers, etc. in advance.

(5)If a prefecture intends to prepare its regional plan, and a council is organized as described in paragraph (1) of the following Article, a prefecture must, submit matters to be specified in the regional plan to the council for consultation.

(6)When a prefecture has prepared its regional plan, it must publish the same without delay.

(7)The provisions of paragraphs (3) through (6) apply mutatis mutandis to any revision of the regional plan.

Article 15(1)To carry out the following administrative works, a prefecture may, either independently or with other prefectures, organize a council for the promotion of measures against articles that drift ashore consisting of prefectures, residents, private organizations and relevant administrative agencies and local governments (hereinafter referred to as "council" in this Article).

(2)The council is to undertake the following administrative works:

(3)Beyond what is provided for in the preceding two articles, matters necessary for the organization and operation of the council are to be determined by the council.

Article 16(1)A prefectural governor may commission any person who is committed to and has insight into activities supporting the promotion of measures against articles that drift ashore as a promoter of measures against articles that drift ashore.

(2)A prefectural governor may designate a private organization that engages in activities supporting the promotion of measures against articles that drift ashore as a promoting organization of measures against articles that drift ashore.

(3)Promoters and promoting organizations of measures against articles that drift ashore are to conduct the following activities: