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Regulation on Safety of Containers

Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 50 of May 25, 1966

Chapter I General Provisions

(Scope of Application)

Article 1This Regulation provides for safety rules of containers to be filled with high pressure gas, capable of being transported at ground level, pursuant to the provisions of the High Pressure Gas Safety Act (Act No. 204 of 1951; hereinafter referred to as the "Act") and the Order for Enforcement of the High Pressure Gas Safety Act (Cabinet Order No. 20 of 1997) (excluding containers to which the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Mutual Recognition (Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 82 of 2016)) applies; hereinafter simply referred to as a "Container").

(Definition of Terms)

Article 2As used in this Regulation, the terms set forth in the following items have the meanings set forth therein, respectively:

(i)the term "seamless container" means a container without any welded zone inside (excluding the bottom connecting zone of a container manufactured by way of joining the bottom part to it) which is exposed to pressure exceeding zero pascal (hereinafter referred to as "pressure-containing part") (excluding those set forth in items (iii), (vi), (vii) and (xiv));

(ii)the term "welded container" means a container with a welded zone on its pressure-containing part (excluding those set forth in the following item, items (vi), (vii) and (xiv));

(iii)the term "ultra-low-temperature container" means a container capable of being filled with gas not exceeding -50°C in temperature, which is designed in a manner to prevent the gas temperature inside from rising above the normal operating temperature by way of covering it with thermal insulating materials (excluding a container set forth in item (xiv));

(iv)the term "low-temperature container" means a container to be filled with liquefied gas, which is designed in a manner to prevent the gas temperature inside from rising above the normal operating temperature by way of covering it with thermal insulating materials or cooling it with refrigerating equipment (excluding those set forth in the preceding item and item (xiv));

(v)the term "brazed container" means a container whose pressure-containing part is joined by brazing (excluding a container set forth in the following item);

(vi)the term "non-refillable container" means a container manufactured as a container incapable of being filled with high pressure gas again once it has been filled with high pressure gas;

(vii)the term "fiber-reinforced plastic composite container" means a container with combined structure, having liners wrapped with resin-impregnated continuous fibers only in circumferential direction, or both in axial direction and circumferential direction;

(viii)the term "hoop-wrapped container" means a container having liners wrapped with resin-impregnated continuous fiber only by way of hoop wrapping (meaning a method of wrapping a liner cylindrical part with fibers in a direction almost perpendicular to its axis);

(ix)the term "full-wrapped container" means a container having liners wrapped with resin-impregnated continuous fiber by way of helical wrapping (meaning a method of wrapping a liner cylindrical part and dome part with fibers in a spiral way) or in-plane wrapping (meaning a method of wrapping a liner cylindrical part and dome part with fibers in a linear way);

(x)the term "general seamless container" means a seamless container, excluding a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system and an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving;

(xi)the term "general FRP composite container" means a fiber-reinforced plastic composite container, excluding a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles;

(xi)-2the term "general FRP composite container for liquefied petroleum gas" means a plastic liner general FRP composite container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas (limited to gas primarily composed of hydrocarbon of carbon number 3 or 4; the same applies hereinafter) (limited to a container having a casing);

(xii)the term "compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system" means a container set forth in the following (a) or (b):

(a)compressed natural gas seamless container for automobile fuel system, which is defined as a seamless container to be filled with compressed natural gas for fuel system of automobiles (meaning automobiles provided in Article 2, paragraph (2) of the Road Transport Vehicle Act (Act No. 185 of 1951), and excluding motorcycles; the same applies hereinafter); and

(b)compressed natural gas composite container for automobile fuel system, which is defined as a fiber-reinforced plastic composite container to be filled with compressed natural gas for fuel system for automobiles;

(xiii)the term "compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system" means a fiber-reinforced plastic composite container to be filled with compressed hydrogen for fuel system for automobiles (excluding a container set forth in item (xiii)-3);

(xiii)-2the term "low filling cycle compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system" means a container for compressed hydrogen automobile fuel system to be fitted on private vehicle for passengers set forth in Article 61, paragraph (2), item (ii) of the Road Transport Vehicle Act;

(xiii)-3the term "GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system" means a fiber-reinforced plastic composite container to be filled with compressed hydrogen for fuel system of automobiles complying with the global technical regulation registered with the global registry pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement concerning the Adoption concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be Fitted and/or be Used on Wheeled Vehicles (Public Notice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs No. 474 of 2000) (hereinafter simply referred to as the "Global Technical Regulations");

(xiii)-4the term "low filling cycle GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system" means a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system to be fitted on private vehicle for passengers set forth in Article 61, paragraph (2), item (ii) of the Road Transport Vehicle Act;

(xiii)-5the term "compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system" means a metal liner filament-reinforced plastic composite container to be filled with compressed hydrogen for fuel system of two-wheeled motor vehicles;

(xiv)the term "liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system" means a container to be filled with liquefied natural gas for fuel system for automobiles;

(xv)the term "liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system" means a container to be filled with liquefied natural gas for fuel system for automobiles;

(xvi)the term "container for trunk" means a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system to be fitted only on a trunk (limited to a place structurally designed to protect it from the risk of exposure to stone chips, rainwater or any other corrosive environment);

(xvii)the term "high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles" means a container for transportation of high pressure gas, which is fixed on a tank car (meaning a car provided in Article 35-3, paragraph (1), item (xxiii) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Road Transport Vehicle Act (Order of the Ministry of Transport No. 74 of 1951) or a trailer car (meaning a car provided in Article 1, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Standards on Safety of Road Transport Vehicle (Order of the Ministry of Transport No. 67 of 1951));

(xvii)-2the term "compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles" means a fiber-reinforced plastic composite container which is a high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles for transportation of compressed hydrogen;

(xvii)-3the term "liquefied hydrogen container for transportation automobiles" means an ultra low-temperature container which is a high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles for transportation of liquefied hydrogen;

(xvii)-4the term "aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving" means a seamless container made of aluminum alloy to be filled with air or gases specified in Article 39, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas (Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 53 of 1966) for scuba diving;

(xviii)the term "PG container" means a container to be filled with helium, neon, argon, krypton or nitrogen, or mixed gas composed of two or more of these gases;

(xix)the term "SG container" means a container to be filled with the following gases:

(a)monosilane;

(b)phosphine;

(c)arsine;

(d)diborane;

(e)hydrogen selenide;

(f)monogermane;

(g)disilane;

(h)mixed gas composed of two or more of the gases specified in (a) through (g);

(i)mixed gas composed of one or more of the gases specified in (a) through (h), and one or more of the gases set forth in the preceding item;

(j)mixed gas composed of one or more of the gases specified in (a) through (h) and hydrogen; and

(k)mixed gas composed of one or more of the gases specified in (a) through (h), one or more of gases set forth in the preceding item, and hydrogen;

(xx)the term "class-I FC container" means a container to be filled with liquefied fluoroolefin 1234yf, liquefied fluoroolefin 1234ze, liquefied fluorocarbon 12, liquefied fluorocarbon 134a, liquefied fluorocarbon 500, liquefied fluorocarbon 401a, liquefied fluorocarbon 401B, liquefied fluorocarbon 115, liquefied fluorocarbon 412A, liquefied fluorocarbon 218, liquefied fluorocarbon 407D, liquefied fluorocarbon 22 or liquefied fluorocarbon 502;

(xxi)the term "class-II FC container" means a container to be filled with liquefied fluorocarbon 422D, liquefied fluorocarbon 900JA, liquefied fluorocarbon 509A, liquefied fluorocarbon 422A, liquefied fluorocarbon 407C, liquefied fluorocarbon 402B, liquefied fluorocarbon 404A, liquefied fluorocarbon 407A, liquefied fluorocarbon 901JA, liquefied fluorocarbon 507A, liquefied fluorocarbon 402A, liquefied fluorocarbon 407B, liquefied fluorocarbon 125, liquefied fluorocarbon 407E or the gases set forth in the preceding item;

(xxii)the term "class-III FC container" means a container to be filled with liquefied fluorocarbon 410B, liquefied fluorocarbon 410JA, liquefied fluorocarbon 410A, liquefied fluorocarbon 32 or the gases set forth in the preceding two items;

(xxiii)the term "FC container" collectively means a class-I FC container, class-II FC container and class-III FC container;

(xxiv)the term "high-strength steel" means manganese steel, chrome molybdenum steel, nickel-chrome molybdenum steel and any other low-alloy steel (excluding stainless steel), with tensile strength exceeding 880N/mm2 in the case of manganese steel, or with tensile strength exceeding 950N/mm2 in the case of other materials;

(xxv)the term "maximum filling pressure" means pressure (meaning gauge pressure; the same applies hereinafter) set forth in the right column of the following appended table, in accordance with the categories of containers set forth in the left column of the same appended table;

Category of containers	Pressure
Container to be filled with compressed gas (excluding a SG container, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system)	Maximum value of pressure of gas that may be filled into the relevant container at the temperature of 35°C (or 15°C, in the case of acetylene gas)
Ultra low-temperature container, low-temperature container or liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system	Maximum value of normal operating pressure
Container other than ultra low-temperature container, low-temperature container and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system to be filled with liquefied gas (excluding a SG container)	Value of pressure equivalent to 3/5 of the hydrostatic test pressure specified in the table of item (xxvi) (or, in case of a non-refillable container, 4/5 of the hydrostatic test pressure specified in item (xvii))
GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system	Maximum value of pressure of gas applied to the relevant container during filling it with fuels, which is equivalent to 5/4 of the nominal working pressure specified in the following item.
SG container	Value of pressure equivalent to 3/5 of the hydrostatic test pressure specified in the table of item (xxvi)

(xxv)-2the term "nominal working pressure for GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system" means pressure value which is the reference point of operating characteristics when using a container fully filled with compressed hydrogen at the temperature of 15°C;

(xxvi)the term "hydrostatic test pressure" means the pressure set forth in the right column of the following appended table, in accordance with the categories of containers of high pressure gas set forth in the left column of the same appended table (excluding those set forth in the following item to item (xxviii)-2);

Types of high-pressure gas				Pressure (unit: MPa)
Compressed gas	Acetylene gas			3 times the value of maximum filling pressure
	Gas other than acetylene gas			5/3 of the value of maximum filling pressure
Gas to be filled in a SG cContainer				24.5
Liquefied gas to be filled in a ultra low-temperature container, low-temperature container and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system				5/3 of the value of maximum filling pressure
Liquefied gas (excluding gases to be filled in ultra low-temperature container, low-temperature container and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system)	Liquefied ethylene			22.1
	Liquefied fluorocarbon-13			20.6
	Carbon dioxide			19.6
	Liquefied dinitrous monoxide			19.6
	Liquefied ethane			19.6
	Liquefied sulfur hexafluoride			19.6
	Carbon dioxide with liquefied ethylene oxide or liquefied dinitrous monoxide added			19.6
	Liquefied polytetrafluoroethylene		A	13.7
			B	19.6
	Liquefied xenon		A	12.7
			B	19.6
	Liquefied hydrogen chloride		A	12.7
			B	15.2
	Liquefied hydrogen bromide		A	6.7
			B	7.6
	Liquefied hydrogen sulfide		A	5.2
			B	6.4
	Gas to be filled in Class-III FC cContainer		A	5.0
	Liquefied fluorocarbon-13B1		A	4.3
			B	5.1
	Gas to be filled in Class-II FC cContainer		A	4.0
	Liquefied fluorocarbon-502		A	3.0
			B	3.6
	Liquefied propylene		A	3.0
			B	3.5
	Gas to be filled in Class-I FC container		A	3.0
	Liquefied ammonia		A	2.9
			B	3.6
	Liquefied petroleum gas	Pressure at the temperature of 48°C exceeding 1.53 MPa but not exceeding 1.82 MPa	A	3.0
			B	3.5
		Pressure at the temperature of 48°C exceeding 0.88 MPa but not exceeding 1.53 MPa	A	2.5
			B	2.9
		Pressure at the temperature of 48°C not exceeding 0.88 MPa	A	1.5
			B	1.8
	Liquefied fluorocarbon-22		A	2.9
			B	3.4
	Liquefied propane		A	2.5
			B	2.9
	Liquefied fluorocarbon-115		A	2.5
			B	2.9
	Liquefied chlorine		A	2.2
			B	2.5
	Liquefied fluorocarbon-500		A	2.2
			B	2.4
	Liquefied cyclopropane		A	2.1
			B	2.5
	Liquefied methyl ether		A	1.8
			B	2.3
	Liquefied fluorocarbon-12		A	1.8
			B	2.1
	Liquefied fluorocarbon-152a		A	1.8
			B	2.1
	Liquefied chloromethyl		A	1.6
			B	2.0
	Liquefied sulfurous acid gas		A	1.2
			B	1.5
	Liquefied chloroethene		A	1.2
			B	1.3
	Liquefied monomethylamine		A	1.0
			B	1.3
	Liquefied butadiene		A	1.0
			B	1.2
	Liquefied ethylene oxide		A	1.0
			B	1.2
	Liquefied butane		A	0.9
			B	1.1
	Liquefied fluorocarbon-C318		A	0.9
			B	1.1
	Liquefied butylene		A	0.8
			B	1.0
	Liquefied trimethylamine		A	0.6
			B	0.8
	Liquefied dimethylamine		A	0.6
			B	0.7
	Liquefied fluorocarbon-114		A	0.5
			B	0.7
	Liquefied hydrogen cyanide			0.6
	Other gases		A	5/3 of the value of pressure at the temperature of 48°C, or 24.5
			B	5/3 of the value of pressure at the temperature of 55°C, or 24.5
Note
"A" is a container with an internal volume exceeding 500 liters, with its external surface covered with cork not less than 50 mm in thickness (or, in case of a container with an internal volume exceeding 4,000 liters, 100 mm) or a container with equivalent or better heat insulating measures, and a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters. "B" is a container other than the above.

(xxvii)the term "hydrostatic test pressure for non-refillable container" means the pressure corresponding to the following categories of container to be filled with high pressure gas, respectively:

(a)compressed gas:5/4 of the maximum filling pressure;

(b)liquefied gas:3/4 of the hydrostatic test pressure specified in the right column of the table in the preceding item, in accordance with the categories of containers of high pressure gas set forth in the left column of the same appended table;

(xxvii)-2the term "hydrostatic test pressures for a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles" means a figure equal to 3/2 of the maximum filling pressure;

(xxviii)the term "hydrostatic test pressure for plastic liner general FRP composite container" means a pressure, in accordance with the following categories of container to be filled with high pressure gas, respectively:

(a)compressed gas:3/2 of the maximum filling pressure;

(b)liquefied gas:9/10 of the hydrostatic test pressure specified in the right column of the table in item (xxvi), in accordance with the categories of containers of high pressure gas set forth in the left column of the same appended table;

(xxviii)-2the term "hydrostatic test pressure for GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system" means a figure equal to 6/5 of the maximum filling pressure;

(xxviii)-3the term "Number of test cycles for GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system" means the number of occasions of use which is applied as a threshold of durable life at the initial pressure cycling test under the Global Technical Regulation;

(xxviii)-4Number of test cycles for a compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system:11,000 times

(xxix)the term "flammable gas" means acethylene, arsine, ammonia, carbon monoxide, ethane, ethylene, chloroethene, chloromethyl, ethylene oxide, hydrogen cyanide, cyclopropane, disilane, diborane, dimethylamine, hydrogen, hydrogen selenide, trimethylamine, butadiene, butane, butylene, propane, propylene, fluorocarbon 152a, phosphine, methane, monogermane, monosilane, monomethylamine, methyl ether, polytetrafluoroethylene, hydrogen sulfide and any other gas, which falls under any of the following (a) or (b) (excluding liquefied fluoroolefin 1234yf and liquefied fluoroolefin 1234ze):

(a)gas of which the minimum explosive limit (meaning an explosive limit in the case of mixture with air; the same applies hereinafter) does not exceed ten percent; or

(b)gas of which the difference between the upper and lower explosive limits is 20 percent or more;

(xxx)the term "toxic gas" means sulfurous acid gas, arsine, ammonia, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, chlorine, chloromethyl, arsenic pentafluoride, phosphorus pentafluoride, ethylene oxide, nitrogen trifluoride, boron trifluoride, phosphorus trifluoride, hydrogen cyanide, disilane, diborane, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen selenide, trimethylamine, fluorine, phosgene, phosphine, monogermane, monosilane, monomethylamine, sulfur fluoride, tetrafluorosilane, hydrogen sulfide and any other gas that are poisonous substances provided in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act (Act No. 303 of 1950);

(xxxi)the term "type test" means a test to be performed only once for the same type of product for the type approval under Article 49-21, paragraph (1) of the Act;

(xxxii)the term "Erhardt method" means a method of manufacturing a seamless container, whereby the cylindrical part and bottom part of the container is formed by way of extruding a metal material chunk and other means;

(xxxiii)the term "Mannesmann method" means a method of manufacturing a seamless container, whereby the bottom part of a container is formed by jointing the pipe end through a heating process (limited to a process without adding metal) or formed by way of a heating process for both of the pipe ends;

(xxxiv)the term "cupping method" means a method of manufacturing a seamless container, whereby the cylindrical part and bottom part of the container is formed by the raising of a metal plate or other means.

Chapter II Manufacturing

(Standards of Manufacturing Methods)

Article 3The technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 41, paragraph (1) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a container must be manufactured by using materials appropriate to the type of high pressure gas to be filled, filling pressure, operating temperature, and operating environment;

(ii)a container must be manufactured in a way to secure appropriate wall thickness according to the type of high pressure gas to be filled, filling pressure, operating temperature, and operating environment;

(iii)a container must be manufactured with appropriate structure and specifications according to its materials, operating temperature and operating environment;

(iv)a container must be manufactured by appropriate processing, welding and heating methods according to its materials and structure;

(v)a container must be manufactured in a way to secure appropriate dimensional accuracy.

Chapter III Container Inspection

Section 1 Container Inspection

(Application for Container Inspection)

Article 4A person that intends to undergo a container inspection pursuant to the main clause of Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application for container inspection using Form 1 to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (in the case of a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fixed on a railroad vehicle), to the prefectural governor (or the head of the designated city under Article 252-19, paragraph (1) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947); hereinafter referred as a "designated city") in the case of an area within the designated city; the same applies in Article 21, paragraph (1), Article 22, paragraph (1), Article 26 and Article 29) having jurisdiction over the location of the container), the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body having jurisdiction over the location of the container.

(Exemption from Container Inspection)

Article 5The containers for usages specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 44, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a container for export;

(ii)a container to be used in Japan which is not to be filled with high pressure gas; and

(iii)a container to be used in Japan which is not to be distributed after being filled with high pressure gas.

(Methods of Container Inspection)

Article 6The methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a container inspection must be performed in a manner clearly specifying test sample, test pressure, test medium, duration, verification method and any other conditions of matters to be identified to secure reproducibility of the test as needed;

(ii)for testing procedures, test sample, testing device, etc., the Japan Industrial Standards or other normalized standards must be used as needed;

(iii)for a container which the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry determines appropriate in terms of materials, wall thickness, structure, etc. and which has documents showing quality of materials and strength of container that are deemed appropriate and any other material necessary for a container inspection, a test or inspection relating to the material may be omitted;

(iv)a record of container inspection results must be prepared and kept in an appropriate manner.

(Standards of Container at Container Inspection)

Article 7(1)The standards of containers by type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 44, paragraph (4) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a container must be designed in conformity with the standards of manufacturing method provided in Article 3;

(ii)a container must undergo and pass a hydrostatic test under a pressure not lower than the hydrostatic test pressure;

(iii)beyond what is provided in the preceding item, a container must have strength appropriate to its filling pressure and operating temperature;

(iv)a container must not have any defect which would be detrimental to their use;

(v)a container must have appropriate dimensional accuracy;

(vi)a container must be able to resist external load which can be expected in its operating environment;

(vii)a container must have airtightness appropriate to its filling pressure;

(viii)for a container with potential safety risk when used for another purpose, the container must be one which has not been used for that purpose;

(ix)for a container for which it is appropriate to restrict the type, filling pressure, volume and labeling method of high pressure gas from the standpoints of its structure, material and mode of use, the container must conform to those restrictions.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for a type which has passed a type test, a container inspection which is identical to the test performed during the type test may be omitted, and for a type which has passed a container inspection, a type test which is identical to the test performed in the container inspection may be omitted.

Section 2 Stamping of Containers

(Methods of Stamping)

Article 8(1)A person that intends to stamp a mark pursuant to Article 45, paragraph (1) of the Act must stamp the following particulars in a clear and indelible way on a visible part of the wall of the container, in the following order:

(i)a symbol representing the name of an inspection agency;

(ii)a name or symbol representing the container manufacturer (in the case where a party subjected to the inspection is not the container manufacturer, names or symbols representing the container manufacturer and the party subjected to the inspection) (a name only, in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and a compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system);

(iii)types of high pressure gas to be filled ("PG" for a PG container; "SG" for a SG container; "FC1" for a class-I FC container; "FC2" for a class-II FC container; "FC3" for a class-III FC container; "CNG" for a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system; "CHG" for a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles; "LNG" for a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system; or name, abbreviation or molecular formula of the relevant high pressure gas for any other container);

(iv)in the case of a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, after the particulars set forth in the preceding item, the following categories of a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, and, if applicable, a labeling indicating that the container is a container for trunk (Code: R):

(a)a seamless compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system (Code:V1);

(b)a composite metal liner container for compressed natural-gas automobile fuel system of which the minimum burst pressure of its liner is not less than 125% of the maximum filling pressure (Code:V2); or

(c)a composite metal liner container for compressed natural-gas automobile fuel system of which the minimum burst pressure of its liner is less than 125% of the maximum filling pressure (Code:V3);

(iv)-2in the case of a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, following the particulars set forth in the item (iii), the following categories of a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system (Code: LC), and, if applicable, a labeling indicating that the container is a container for trunk (Code: R):

(a)a metal liner compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system of which the minimum burst pressure of its liner is not less than 125% of the maximum filling pressure (Code:VH2); or

(b)a Metal Liner compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system of which the minimum burst pressure of its liner is less than 125% of the maximum filling pressure (Code:VH3);

(iv)-2-2in the case of a low filling cycle compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding item, following the particulars set forth in item (iii), the categories of the containers set forth in the preceding item, a labeling indicating that the container is a low filling cycle compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, and if applicable, a labeling indicating that the container is a container for trunk (Code: R);

(iv)-2-3in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, following the particulars set forth in item (iii), a labeling indicating that the container is a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system (Code:GVH);

(iv)-2-4in the case of a low filling cycle GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding item, following the particulars set forth in item (iii), the labeling specified in the preceding item and a labeling indicating that the container is a low filling cycle GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system (Code:GLC);

(iv)-2-5in the case of a compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, following the particulars set forth in item (iii), a labeling indicating that the container is a compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system (Code:TVH);

(iv)-3in the case of a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles, following the particulars set forth in item (iii), the following categories of a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles:

(a)a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles of which the minimum burst pressure of its liner is not less than 125% of the maximum filling pressure (Code:TH2); or

(b)a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles of which the minimum burst pressure of its liner is less than 125% of the maximum filling pressure (Code:TH3);

(iv)-4in the case of a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system, following the particulars set forth in item (iii), a labeling indicating that the container is a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system (Code:VL);

(iv)-5in the case of an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving, following the particulars set forth in item (iii), a labeling indicating that the container is an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving (Code:SCUBA);

(v)the container's mark (in the case of a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas, a mark must consist of three or less characters) and serial number (in the case of a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas, a mark must consist of five or less digit numbers);

(vi)internal volume (Code: V, Unit: liter);

(vii)in the case of a container excluding liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system (limited to a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas when it is fitted on an automobile), ultra-low-temperature container, compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles, mass of that container excluding its accessories (limited to detachable accessories) (Code: W, Unit: kilogram);

(viii)in the case of a container to be filled with acetylene gas, the mass under the preceding item, with the mass of porous substance and accessories thereof added (Code: TW, Unit: kilogram);

(ix)year/month when the container passes a container inspection (in the case of a container with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters, high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles, compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system, year/month/date when the container passes a container inspection);

(x)in the case of compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles, the following expiration year/month/date, according to the categories of containers set forth therein (in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, the expiration year/month):

(a)compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system:the day on which 15 years pass from the day immediately preceding the day on which the container passes a container inspection (in the case of a container manufactured as those capable of being filled with compressed natural gas in them for a period longer than 15 years, the day designated by the container manufacturer within a period not exceeding 20 years);

(b)liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system:the day on which 15 years pass from the day immediately preceding the day on which the container passes a container inspection;

(c)compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles:the day on which 15 years pass from the day immediately preceding the day on which the container passes a container inspection, or the day designated by the container manufacturer within a period not exceeding 15 years); or

(d)GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system:the month in which 15 years pass from the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes a container inspection;

(xi)in the case of a container except for an ultra-low-temperature container, compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles, the pressure applied in a hydrostatic test (Code: TP, Unit: megapascal) and the letter "M";

(xii)in the case of a container to be filled with compressed gas, ultra-low temperature container and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system, its maximum filling pressure (Code: FP, Unit: megapascal) and the letter "M";

(xii)-2in the case of GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, its nominal working pressure (Code: NWP, Unit: megapascal) and the letter "M";

(xii)-3in the case of GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, the number of test cycles;

(xiii)in the case of a container made of high-strength steel or aluminum alloy (including a liner for a fiber-reinforced plastic composite container, but excluding a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen automobile container for fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles), the following categories of materials:

(a)high-strength steel (Code:HT); and

(b)aluminum alloy (Code:AL);

(xiv)in the case of a container with an internal volume exceeding 500 liters (excluding a fiber-reinforced plastic composite container), the wall thickness of the cylindrical part (Code: t, Unit: millimeters); and

(xv)in the case of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite container, acceptable flaw depth of the fiber-reinforced part of the cylindrical part (Code: DC, Unit: millimeters).

(2)The containers specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as being difficult to be stamped on, as referred to in Article 45, paragraph (1), are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a general seamless container, welded container, ultra-low-temperature container and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system (excluding those imported with the container fitted on an automobile), of which wall thickness of the dome part is 2 mm or less;

(ii)a brazed container;

(iii)a non-refillable container;

(iv)a metal liner general FRP composite container (limited to a full-wrapped container) and plastic liner general FRP composite container (excluding a general FRP composite container for liquefied petroleum gas);

(iv)-2a general FRP composite container for liquefied petroleum gas;

(v)a composite metal liner container for compressed natural-gas automobile fuel system (limited to a full-wrapped container), metal liner compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system (limited to a full-wrapped container), metal liner GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system (limited to a full-wrapped container), compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system (limited to a full-wrapped container), compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles (limited to a full-wrapped container), plastic liner composite compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, plastic liner compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, plastic liner GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and plastic liner compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles (excluding those set forth in the following item, respectively); and

(vi)a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system (limited to a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas when it is fitted on an automobile), compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system, which are imported with the container fitted on an automobile or two-wheeled motor vehicle.

(3)A person that intends to attach a marking plate to Article 45, paragraph (2) of the Act must attach the marking plate in accordance with the method set forth in the following items, according to the categories of containers set forth therein:

(i)the containers set forth in item (i) or (ii) of the preceding paragraph:Firmly attaching to the shoulder of a container or another visible part a thin plate on which the particulars set forth in the items of paragraph (1) are engraved in the same order, in a legible and indelible manner, by way of welding (limited to welding to be performed before heat processing), soldering or brazing;

(ii)the container set forth in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph: Firmly attaching to the shoulder of a container or another visible part a label on which the following particulars are indicated in the following order, in a legible and indelible manner:

(a)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (i) through (iii);

(b)a symbol or number of the batch of the container (meaning containers manufactured from the same charge at the same manufacturing site and on the same year/month/day, having the identical wall thickness, external diameters of cylindrical part, and shape);

(c)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (vi);

(d)total mass of the container including its accessories (Code: TW, Unit: kilogram); and

(e)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (ix) and items (xi) through (xiii);

(iii)the containers set forth in item (iv) of the preceding paragraph: Inserting into a visible part of a hoop wrapping layer a label on which the following particulars are indicated in the following order, in a legible and indelible manner; provided, however, that, alternatively, firmly attaching to the exterior surface of the cylindrical part of the container a segment of aluminum foil on which the particulars set forth in (a), (c) and (e) (in the case of a container using carbon fiber or aramid fiber for the outermost layer, the particulars specified in all sub-items) are stamped:

(a)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (i);

(b)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (ii);

(c)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (iii);

(d)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (v);

(e)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (vi), (vii) and (ix);

(f)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (xi) and (xii);

(g)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (xiii); provided, however, that in the case of a plastic liner general FRP composite container, a labeling indicating that the container is a plastic liner general FRP composite container and the following categories of materials of the boss part:

a. materials other than high-strength steel and aluminum alloy (Code: N);

b. high-strength steel (Code: N-HT); and

c. aluminum alloy (Code: N-AL);

(h)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (xv);

(i)acceptable flaw depth of the fiber-reinforced plastic part other than the cylindrical part (Code: DD, Unit: millimeters); and

(j)in the case of a plastic liner general FRP composite container, proof torque (Code: GT, Unit: newton meters);

(iii)-2the containers set forth in item (iv)-2 of the preceding paragraph: Firmly attaching to the visible part of the exterior surface of the casing of the container a segment of aluminum foil on which the following particulars are stamped in the following order, in a legible and indelible manner:

(a)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (i) through (iii);

(b)a labeling indicating that the container is a general FRP composite container for liquefied petroleum gas (Code:CS);

(c)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (v) through (vii);

(d)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (ix) through (xi);

(e)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (xv);

(f)acceptable flaw depth of the fiber-reinforced plastic part other than the cylindrical part (Code: DD, Unit: millimeters); and

(g)proof torque (Code: GT, Unit: newton meters);

(iv)the containers set forth in item (v) of the preceding paragraph: Inserting into a visible part of a hoop wrapping layer a label on which the following particulars are indicated in accordance with the following order, in a legible and indelible manner; provided, however, that, alternatively, firmly attach to the exterior surface of the cylindrical part of the container a segment of aluminum foil on which the particulars set forth in (a) and (c) (in the case of a container using carbon fiber or aramid fiber for the most outer layer, the matters specified in all sub-items) are stamped:

(a)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (i);

(b)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (ii) through (iv)-3, items (v) and (vi); provided, however, that for the categories of containers under item (iv) of the same paragraph, "V4" is to be indicated for a container which is a plastic liner composite compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system; for the categories of containers under item (iv)-2 of the same paragraph, "VH4" is to be indicated for a container which is a plastic liner compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system; and for the categories of containers under item (iv)-3 of the same paragraph, "TH4" is to be indicated for a container which is a plastic liner compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles;

(c)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (ix) and (x);

(d)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (xii) through (xii)-3 and item (xv); and

(e)acceptable flaw depth of the fiber-reinforced plastic part other than the cylindrical part (Code: DD, Unit: millimeters);

(v)the liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system set forth in item (vi) of the preceding paragraph: Firmly attaching to a visible part of exterior surface of the container a label on which the following particulars are indicated in the following order, in a legible and indelible manner:

(a)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (i) through (iii);

(b)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (v) and (vi);

(c)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (ix) and (xi); and

(d)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (xiii) and (xiv);

(vi)the compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system set forth in item (vi) of the preceding paragraph:Firmly attaching to a visible part of the exterior surface of the container a label on which the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (xiv) and the particulars set forth in item (iv), (a) through (e) are indicated in the same order, in a legible and indelible manner;

(vii)the liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system set forth in item (vi) of the preceding paragraph: Firmly attaching to a visible part of the exterior surface of the container a label on which the following particulars are indicated in the following order, in a legible and indelible manner:

(a)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (i) through (iii) and item (iv)-4;

(b)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (v) and (vi);

(c)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (ix) and (x); and

(d)the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (xii) through (xiv).

(4)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs, if the container complies with the methods set forth in the following items as those which would pose no safety risk, or if the method of stamping, etc. has been approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, the container may be stamped pursuant Article 45, paragraph (1) of the Act or have a marking plate attached to it pursuant paragraph (2) of the same Article according to the method set forth in the relevant item or the method approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(i)in the case of a container complying with Article 10 of the Civil Aeronautics Act (Act No. 231 of 1952), the labeling according to the standards specified in Article 14-2, paragraph (10) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Civil Aeronautics Act (Order of the Ministry of Transport No. 56 of 1952);

(ii)in the case of a container whose testing or inspection has been omitted pursuant to Article 6, item (iii), stamping, etc. of the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (i) through (viii), stamping, etc. when the container passes a hydrostatic test implemented for that container for the first time in its country of manufacture, and, if the relevant first hydrostatic testing is implemented more than one year and six months before the date of application of container inspection, stamping, etc. when the container passes the most recent testing in accordance with the categories of the containers set forth in the following items (limited to testing implemented within one year and six months from the date of application of container inspection), and stamping, etc. the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (x) through (xv):

(a)ultra-low-temperature container (limited to a container with a double-structured tank):pneumatic test and thermal insulation performance test;

(b)liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system with an internal volume less than 150 liters (limited to a container with a double-structured tank):leak test and thermal insulation performance test;

(c)liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system with an internal volume not less than 150 liters (limited to a container with a double-structured tank):leak test, and thermal insulation performance test or cooling performance test;

(d)other containers:hydrostatic test.

(Procedures to Change Type or Pressure of High Pressure Gas to Be Filled in Containers)

Article 9A person that intends to file an application for stamping, etc. pursuant to Article 54, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application for change of type of high pressure gas or pressure using Form 2, together with documents certifying that the container still conforms to the standards under Article 7 even after the change, to the Institute in the case of stamping, etc. carried out by the Institute, to the Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body in the case of stamping, etc. carried out by the Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (in the case of a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fitted on a railroad vehicle, to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the container); hereinafter referred to as "Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, etc." in this Article), the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body having jurisdiction over the location of the container in the case of a container that has undergone an self-inspection of stamping, etc., or to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, etc. in the case of any other type of containers.

Chapter IV Labeling of Containers

(Methods of Labeling)

Article 10(1)A person that intends to label pursuant to Article 46, paragraph (1) of the Act (excluding a manufacturer or importer of a container obviously intended for assignment) must do it in accordance with the following items:

(i)a visible part on the external surface of the container (in the case of a container covered with thermal insulating material, exterior surface of the thermal insulating material; the same applies in items (ii) and (iii)) is to be painted in a color set forth in the right column of the following appended table, in accordance with the categories of the high pressure gases set forth in the left column, for not less than half of its surface area; provided, however, that this does not apply to a container to be filled with hydrogen gas specified in the same appended table which is a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, a container to be filled with other type of high pressure gas specified in the same appended table which is made of a non-colored aluminum, aluminum alloy or stainless steel, a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas, and a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system;

Types of high pressure gases	Categories of painting colors
Oxygen gas	Black
Hydrogen gas	Red
Carbon dioxide	Green
Liquefied ammonia	White
Liquefied chlorine	Yellow
Acetylene gas	Brown
Other types of high-pressure gas	Gray

(ii)the following particulars are to be clearly indicated on the external surface of a container:

(a)the name of high pressure gas that may be filled in the container;

(b)in the case where high pressure gas that may be filled in the container is flammable gas and toxic gas, a character indicating the nature of that high pressure gas ( "燃" with a meaning "flammable" in the case of flammable gas, and "毒" with a meaning "toxic" in the case of toxic gas);

(iii)the name, address and phone number (hereinafter referred to as "name, etc." in this Article) of the container owner (in the case where management service for the container has been consigned to a third party, the container owner or the consignee of management service) are to be clearly indicated on the exterior surface of a container in accordance with public notice; provided, however, that this does not apply to a container set forth in the following (a) through (c):

(a)a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system, whose owner specified in a motor vehicle inspection certificate provided in Article 58 of the Road Transport Vehicle Act (hereinafter simply referred to as a "motor vehicle inspection certificate") is the same as the owner of that container;

(b)a compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, whose owner specified in a motor vehicle inspection certificate or a light motor vehicle notification certificate provided in Article 63-2, paragraph (3) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Road Transport Vehicle Act is the same as the owner of that container; and

(c)a high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles, whose owner specified in a motor vehicle inspection certificate is the same as the owner of that container.

(2)In case of any change to a name, etc., the container owner that labels the container with the name, etc. pursuant to item (iii) of the preceding paragraph is to reflect the change to the labels without delay.In this case, labels are to be made in accordance with item (iii) of the preceding paragraph.

(3)A person that intends to make labels pursuant to Article 46, paragraph (2) of the Act must make them in accordance with the method to clearly indicate the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (ii), (a) and paragraph (1), item (iii); provided, however, that for a container for export, it is not necessary to clearly indicate the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), item (iii).

(4)Beyond what is set forth in the preceding three paragraphs, a person that intends to make labels pursuant to Article 46, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act on a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles must make them in accordance with the method specified by public notice.

(5)Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) through (3), if the container complies with the methods to be separately provided in public notice as those which would pose no safety risk, or if the labeling method has been approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, labels under Article 46, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act may be made in accordance with a method specified in the public notice or a method approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(Labels to Be Made by Assignee of Containers)

Article 11A person that intends to make labels pursuant to Article 47, paragraph (1) of the Act must make them in accordance with paragraph (1), item (iii) and paragraph (5) of the preceding Article.

(Labeling Associated with Change of Type or Pressure of High Pressure Gas to Be Filled in Containers)

Article 12A person that intends to make labels pursuant to Article 54, paragraph (3) of the Act must make them in accordance with Article 10, paragraph (1), items (i) and (ii), and paragraph (5) of the same Article.

Chapter V Standards for Accessories

(Accessories for Containers under Article 49-2, Paragraph (1) of the Act)

Article 13The accessories specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in the main clause of Article 49-2, paragraph (1) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a valve (limited to a valve to be fitted on a container other than a non-refillable container);

(ii)a safety valve (limited to a safety valve to be fitted on a container set forth in Article 19, item (i));

(iii)an emergency shut-off device (limited to a device to be fitted on a container set forth in Article 19, items (iii), (iv) and (v)); and

(iv)a check valve (limited to a check valve to be fitted on a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system).

(Application for Accessories Inspection)

Article 14A person that intends to undergo accessories inspection pursuant to the main clause of Article 49-2, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application for accessories inspection using Form 3, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (in the case of accessories fitted on a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fitted on a railroad vehicle), to the prefectural governor (in the case where the accessories are within the district of a designated city, and where the administrative business pertaining to the accessories does not fall under the business provided in Article 22 of the Order, the head of the designated city having jurisdiction over the location of the accessories; the same applies in Article 70) having jurisdiction over the location of the accessories), the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body having jurisdiction over the location of the accessories (in the case of accessories manufactured by a manufacturer of accessories, the location of its business establishment, or in the case of imported accessories, the place of landing of those accessories; the same applies in this Article).

(Exception of Accessories for Export)

Article 15The accessories for the usage specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-2, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Act, are accessories for export and other accessories obviously not entering into the domestic market.

(Methods of Accessories Inspection)

Article 16The methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-2, paragraph (1) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)an accessories inspection must be performed in a manner clearly specifying test sample, test pressure, test medium, duration, verification method and any other conditions of matters to be identified to secure reproducibility of the test as needed;

(ii)for testing procedures, test sample, testing device, etc., the Japan Industrial Standards or other normalized standards must be used as needed;

(iii)for accessories which the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry determines appropriate in terms of materials, wall thickness, structure, etc. and are equipped with documents showing quality of materials and strength of container which are deemed appropriate or any other document material necessary for an accessories inspection, a test or inspection relating to the document material may be omitted;

(iv)a record of an accessories inspection results must be prepared and stored in an appropriate manner.

(Accessories Standards for Accessories Inspection)

Article 17(1)The accessories standards by type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-2, paragraph (4) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)accessories must have strength appropriate to their operating pressure and operating temperature;

(ii)accessories must not have any defect which would be detrimental to their use;

(iii)accessories must be able to resist external load which can be expected in their operating environment;

(iv)materials used for accessories must be appropriate to the type of high pressure gas to be used, operating pressure, operating temperature and operating environment;

(v)accessories must have airtightness according to their respective operating pressure;

(vi)a valve and check valve must reliably function;

(vii)a safety valve must properly function in response to pressure or temperature exceeding the scope of normal use of the container on which it is fitted;

(viii)an emergency shut off device must be activated immediately and automatically at an appropriate temperature.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for a type which has passed a type test, an accessory inspection which is identical to the test performed during the course of the type test may be omitted, and for a type which has passed an accessories inspection, a type test which is identical to the test performed during the accessories inspection may be omitted.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, for accessories found to be acceptable by the test, type test or examination set forth in the following items (hereinafter referred to as "inspection, etc." in this Article), the standards for the inspection, etc. are treated as standards for accessories by the type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-2, paragraph (4):

(i)type tests and examinations under Article 5 and Article 6, paragraph (3) of the Ship Safety Act (Act No. 11 of 1933) and under the Regulation on Type Approval for Ships (Order of the Ministry of Transport No. 50 of 1973);

(ii)an examination provided in Article 21-2, paragraph (1) of the Fire Service Act (Act No. 186 of 1948) for accessories subject to examination specified in the same paragraph; and

(iii)an inspection to be performed by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism pursuant to Article 10 of the Civil Aeronautics Act.

(Stamping for Accessories Inspection)

Article 18(1)A person that intends to stamp pursuant to Article 49-3, paragraph (1) of the Act must stamp the particulars set forth in the following items (in the case of a fusible safety valve for an acethylene container, items (i) through (iv) and (vii)) in a clear and indelible way on a visible part of the wall of accessories, in the same order; provided, however, that for accessories not fit for stamping, the above method may be replaced with firmly attaching to a visible part of the accessories a thin plate on which the relevant particulars are stamped, by way of welding, soldering or brazing:

(i)year/month/date when the accessories pass the accessories inspection (year/month, in the case of accessories to be fitted on a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system);

(ii)a symbol representing the name of an inspection agency;

(iii)a name or symbol representing the accessories manufacturer (in the case where a party which received the inspection is not the accessories manufacturer, names or symbols representing the accessories manufacturer and the party which received the inspection);

(iv)code and serial number of accessories;

(v)mass of accessories (limited to accessories other than those to be fitted on a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system (limited to a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas when it is fitted on an automobile), ultra-low-temperature container, compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles) (Code: W; Unit: kilogram);

(vi)pressure applied in a hydrostatic test (Code: TP, Unit: megapascal) and the alphabetical letter "M";

(vii)type of containers on which the following accessories are to be fitted:

(a)a container to be filled with compressed acetylene gas (Code:AG);

(b)a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system (Code:CNGV);

(c)a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system (Code:CHGV);

(d)a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system (Code:CHGGV);

(e)a compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system (Code:CHGTV)

(f)a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles (Code:CHGT);

(g)a container to be filled with compressed gas (excluding the containers specified in (a) to (f)) (Code:PG);

(h)a container to be filled with liquefied gas (excluding the containers specified in (i) to (k)) (Code:LG);

(i)a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas (excluding the container specified in (j)) (Code:LPG);

(j)an ultra-low-temperature container and low-temperature container (Code:LT); and

(j)a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system (Code:LNGV);

(viii)following the particulars set forth in sub-item (j) of the preceding item, in the case of a safety valve to be fitted on a container for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobiles, the following safety valve type:

(a)a safety valve to be fitted on a container for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobiles for prevention of rupture by liquid seal (hereinafter referred to as a "low-pressure safety valve for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobile") (Code:L); and

(b)a safety valve to be fitted on a container for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobiles for prevention of rupture of the container caused by escalation of pressure exceeding the pressure within the normal range of use of the container (hereinafter referred to as a "high-pressure safety valve for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobile") (Code:H).

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if the accessories comply with the method set forth in the following items as those which would pose no safety risk, or if the method of stamping has been approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, a mark under Article 49-3, paragraph (1) of the Act may be stamped according to the method set forth in the relevant items or the method approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(i)for accessories to which the Ship Safety Act applies, the following methods:

(a)a method that has passed the inspection specified in Article 5 of the same Act;

(b)for accessories that have passed the inspection specified in Article 6, paragraph (3) of the same Act, a method consisting of a certification stamp specified in Article 45, paragraph (1) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Ship Safety Act (Order of the Ministry of Transport No. 41 of 1963); and

(c)for accessories that have passed the examination specified in Article 6-4, paragraph (1) of the same Act, a method consisting of a certification stamp specified in Article 15, paragraph (1) of the Regulation on Type Approval for Ships;

(ii)for accessories subject to examination under Article 21-2, paragraph (1) of the Fire Service Act (Act No. 186 of 1948), a method consist of labeling pursuant to Article 21-9, paragraph (1) of the same Act;

(iii)for accessories which comply with the provisions of Article 10 of the Civil Aeronautics Act, a method consisting of labeling in accordance with the standards specified in Article 14, paragraph (1) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Civil Aeronautics Act;

(iv)for accessories inspected pursuant to Article 16, item (iii), a method consisting of stamping a mark when the accessories pass a pneumatic test implemented for those accessories for the first time in their country of manufacture, and when the accessories pass the most recent pneumatic test (limited to a test implemented within one year and six months from the date of application of accessories inspection) in case the relevant first pneumatic test is implemented more than one year and six months before the date of application of accessories inspection, and stamping a mark with the particulars set forth in paragraph (1), items (ii) through (vii).

Chapter VI Filling

(Accessories for Containers Other Than Non-refillable Containers)

Article 19The containers specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Act, are the containers set forth in the following items, and the accessories specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, referred to in the same item, are the accessories set forth in the following items:

(i)a container other than those set forth in the following (a) through (e): safety valve (in the case of a safety valve to be fitted on a container for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobiles, a low-pressure safety valve for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobile and high-pressure safety valve for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobile):

(a)a container to be filled with a high pressure gas that may significantly deteriorate a safety valve through contact with the safety valve;

(b)a container to be filled with toxic gas for which it is inappropriate to fit a safety valve;

(c)a container to be filled with carbon dioxide (limited to a container to be fitted on a fire prevention equipment or aircraft which has passed a hydrostatic test performed under the pressure at least 24.5 megapascal);

(d)a container which is a component of life-saving equipment subject to an inspection specified in Article 5 or Article 6, paragraph (3) of the Ship Safety Act and a type approval and examination under the Regulation on Type Approval for Ships; and

(e)a container to be used for fire defense equipment, etc. specified in Article 17, paragraph (1) of the Fire Service Act which has passed an inspection under Article 21-2, paragraph (1) of the same Act;

(ii)a container fitted with a valve or safety valve that shares that valve or safety valve with other containers, a container to be filled with gas other than liquefied petroleum gas with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters, or high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles:an accessory piping (limited to a pipe with pressure resistance and airtightness at least equivalent to those of the container on which the pipe is fitted, which is made of appropriate materials for the operating environment; the same applies in this Article);

(iii)a container to be filled with flammable gas other than liquefied petroleum gas, toxic gas (excluding chlorine) or liquefied oxygen gas with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters, or high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles:emergency shut off device;

(iv)a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters or a high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles, with a protrusive valve, attached piping or liquid level gauge:a protector, attached pipe and emergency shut off device;

(v)a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters or a high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles, with a non-protrusive valve, attached piping or liquid level gauge:an attached pipe and emergency shut off device;

(vi)GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system:check valve.

(Accessories for non-refillable containers)

Article 20The container specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (2), item (iii) of the Act, is a non-refillable container, and the accessories specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, referred to in the same item, are safety valves.

(Standards for Processing Containers)

Article 21(1)The technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a neck ring must be fitted by tightly affixing it;

(ii)a footring must not be fitted by welding;

(iii)if a footring is fitted on a container, the mass of the footring must be engraved on the right side of the stamped mark or label indicating the mass of the container in a clearly distinguished manner;

(iv)processing must be implemented so that the wall thickness after the processing will not be reduced below the wall thickness specified in Article 3, item (ii);

(v)in the case where welding is to be performed for the purpose of repairing a flaw, etc. of a welded container, an ultra-low-temperature container and a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system, the repaired parts after the processing must be free from any defect which would adversely affect its use and must have appropriate strength.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for a container complying with the standards specified in Article 14, paragraph (1) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Civil Aeronautics Act filled by a person that has obtained an airworthiness certification pursuant to Article 10 of the Civil Aeronautics Act, the relevant standards or, in the case where approval from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the standards approved by the Minister may be applied as the technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Act.

(Methods of Calculation of Mass of Liquefied Gas)

Article 22(1)The method specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, referred to in the items of Article 48, paragraph (4) of the Act, are the following formula:

G=V÷C

In this formula, the characters "G", "V" and "C" are to represent the following values, respectively:

G: value of mass of liquefied gas (Unit: kilogram)

V: value of internal volume of container (Unit: liter)

C: In the case of liquefied petroleum gas to be filled in a low-temperature container, ultra-low-temperature container and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system, an inverse number of a figure obtained by multiplying the specific gravity of the liquefied gas (Unit: kg/L) at the maximum normal operating temperature of the container by 9/10 (in the case of a container for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobiles, an inverse number of a figure obtained by multiplying the specific gravity of liquefied hydrogen to be filled in that container (Unit: kg/L) at the boiling point under atmospheric pressure by 9/10); in the case of another gas set forth in the left column of the table of Article 2, item (xxvi) which is a liquefied gas to be filled in a container specified in A of the same appended table and whose hydrostatic test pressure is 24.5 megapascal, the pressure at the temperature of 48°C; in the case of liquefied gas to be filled in a container specified in B of the same appended table, the value of volume of one kilogram of the liquefied gas (Unit: liter) whose pressure at the temperature of 55°C is 14.7 megapascal or below; or, in the case of other gases, the constant value set forth in the right column of the following appended table, in accordance with the types of liquefied gases as respectively set forth in the left column of the same appended table.

Type of liquefied gas	Constant value
Liquefied ethylene	3.50
Liquefied ethane	2.80
Liquefied propane	2.35
Liquefied propylene	2.27
Liquefied butane	2.05
Liquefied butylene	2.00
Liquefied cyclopropane	1.87
Liquefied ammonia	1.86
Liquefied butadiene	1.85
Liquefied trimethylamine	1.76
Liquefied dimethylamine	1.70
Liquefied methyl ether	1.67
Liquefied monomethylamine	1.67
Liquefied hydrogen chloride	1.67
Liquefied hydrogen cyanide	1.57
Liquefied hydrogen sulfide	1.47
Carbon dioxide	1.34
Liquefied dinitrous monoxide	1.34
Liquefied ethylene oxide	1.30
Liquefied fluorocarbon-152a	1.27
Liquefied chloromethyl	1.25
Liquefied chloroethene	1.22
Liquefied polytetrafluoroethylene	1.11
Liquefied fluorocarbon-500	1.00
Liquefied fluorocarbon-13	1.00
Liquefied fluorocarbon-22	0.98
Liquefied fluoroolefin 1234ze	0.96
Liquefied fluorocarbon-134a	0.94
Liquefied fluorocarbon-502	0.93
Liquefied sulfur hexafluoride	0.91
Liquefied fluorocarbon-115	0.90
Liquefied fluorocarbon-12	0.86
Liquefied xenon	0.81
Liquefied chlorine	0.80
Liquefied hydrogen bromide	0.80
Liquefied sulfurous acid gas	0.80
Liquefied fluorocarbon-13B1	0.79
Liquefied fluorocarbon-114	0.76
Liquefied fluorocarbon-C318	0.74
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity at the temperature of 15 degrees Celsius (hereinafter referred to as the "gravity" in this table) is not less than 0.453 but not exceeding 0.462	2.78
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.463 but not exceeding 0.472	2.71
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.473 but not exceeding 0.480	2.64
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.481 but not exceeding 0.488	2.57
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.489 but not exceeding 0.495	2.50
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.496 but not exceeding 0.503	2.44
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.504 but not exceeding 0.510	2.38
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.511 but not exceeding 0.519	2.33
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.520 but not exceeding 0.527	2.28
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.528 but not exceeding 0.536	2.23
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.537 but not exceeding 0.544	2.18
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.545 but not exceeding 0.552	2.13
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.553 but not exceeding 0.560	2.09
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.561 but not exceeding 0.568	2.04
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.569 but not exceeding 0.576	2.00
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.577 but not exceeding 0.584	1.97
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.585 but not exceeding 0.592	1.93
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.593 but not exceeding 0.600	1.89
Liquefied petroleum gas whose gravity is not less than 0.601 but not exceeding 0.608	1.86
Other petroleum gases	1.05 divided by the gravity of the relevant liquefied gas at the temperature of 48 degrees Celsius

(Application for Special Permission for Filling)

Article 23A person that intends to obtain a permission under Article 48, paragraph (5) of the Act must submit a written application for special permission for filling using Form 4, together with a document explaining the reason, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry having jurisdiction over the location of the business establishment where the gas is filled (in the case of a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fixed on a railroad vehicle), to the prefectural governor (in the case where the business establishment is within the district of the designated city, and where the administrative business pertaining to the business establishment does not fall under the business provided in Article 22 of the Order, the head of the designated city having jurisdiction over the location of the business establishment) having jurisdiction over the location of the business establishment where the gas is filled), having jurisdiction over the location of the business establishment where the gas is filled.

Chapter VII Reinspection of Container and Accessories, and Container Reinspection Station

(Period of Container Reinspection)

Article 24(1)The period specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (v) of the Act, is the period set forth in the following items, starting from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month shown in stamping, etc., in the case of a container which has not undergone a container reinspection (hereinafter referred to as "month in which the container passes the inspection") (in the case of a container with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters, compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles, the date immediately preceding the month/date shown in stamping, etc.); or starting from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month shown in the stamped mark under Article 37, paragraph (1), item (i) or the marking plate under paragraph (2), item (i) of the same Article made when the container passes the previous container reinspection (hereinafter referred to as "month in which the container passes the reinspection") (in the case of a container with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters, compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles, the date immediately preceding the month/date shown in stamping, etc.), in case of a container which has undergone an accessories inspection:

(i)for a welded container, ultra-low-temperature container and brazed container (referred to as "welded container, etc." in item (ii) and Article 71, and excluding a welded container, etc. specified in item (ii) and a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system specified in item (viii)), five years in the case of a container for which a period of 20 years or less pass from the date of manufacture (referred to as "age" in this Article, Article 27 and Article 71), and two years for a container aged 20 years or more;

(iii)for a general seamless container, five years;

(iv)for a general FRP composite container, five years;

(v)in the case of a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles, four years in the case of a container aged less than four years, and two years and two months in the case of a container aged more than four years;

(vi)for a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, four years and one month in the case of a container aged four years and one month or less, and two years and three months in the case of a container aged more than four years and one month;

(vii)for an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving, one year and one month;

(viii)for a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas when it is fitted on an automobile (limited to a welded container; the same applies hereinafter), six years in the case of a container aged less than 20 years, and two years in the case of a container aged 20 years or more.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for the first container reinspection of a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas that is fitted on an automobile for which the effective period of a motor vehicle inspection certificate specified in Article 61 of the Road Transport Vehicle Act is one year, the period starting from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes the inspection until the inspection under Article 62 of the Road Transport Vehicle Act performed on the automobile on which the relevant container is fitted for the first time after six years pass from the relevant starting date may be applied as the period under Article 48, paragraph (1), item (v) of the Act.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the period so approved may be applied as the period specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (v) of the Act.

(Methods of Container Reinspection)

Article 25(1)The method specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act, is provided by public notice.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the method so approved may be treated as the method specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act.

(Standards of Container for Container Reinspection)

Article 26(1)Among the standards of containers by type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act, the standards for a welded container, brazed container, general seamless container (excluding a container to be filled with high pressure gases for manufacturing semiconductors specified in Appended Table 1 whose dew point under atmospheric pressure is -60°C or lower and which undergoes an ultrasonic inspection as a means of container reinspection provided in Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as a "seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor")), general FRP composite container and aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving are as set forth in the following items; provided, however, that for an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving, in the case of a container reinspection other than the first container reinspection after four years and one month pass from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes the inspection or from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes the reinspection performed in accordance with items (i) and (iii), from among those set forth in item (i) only those specified by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may be applied:

(i)a container must undergo and pass a visual inspection pursuant to the following:

(a)the inspection must be implemented for each container;

(b)only a container free from any corrosion, crack, streak, etc. which would adversely affect its use on its internal surface or external surface (in the case of an acethylene container stuffed with porous substance, exterior surface) must be judged acceptable;

(c)for a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas with an internal volume not less than 15 liters but less than 120 liters (excluding a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system), only a container free from any material corrosion, wear or deformation on its footring and with sufficient bottom surface interval (meaning a gap between the bottom surface and horizontal surface of the base of the container standing perpendicular to the horizontal surface) for prevention of corrosion of the bottom part of that container must be judged acceptable;

(ii)for a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas (limited to a container other than those manufactured from stainless steel, aluminum alloy or any other anti-corrosive materials, with an internal volume less than 120 liters), appropriate rust-proof painting must be applied pursuant to the provisions of public notice;

(iii)a container must undergo and pass a hydrostatic test pursuant to the following:

(a)a hydrostatic test must be performed for a container with an internal volume not exceeding two liters, having a wall thickness fixed in a manner so that the factor of safety against destruction be superior to 3.5 (excluding a general FRP composite container), high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles and plastic liner general FRP composite container, and a volumetric expansion test must be performed for other containers;

(b)a container reinspection must be implemented for each container; provided, however, that in the case of an acethylene container stuffed with porous substance, only one container randomly chosen from containers made at the same manufacturing site and having the same internal volume, shape and manufacturing year/month indicated in its stamping, etc. is to be tested. If the chosen container has passed the test, the remaining containers are deemed to have passed the test;

(c)in a volumetric expansion test, only a container free from any leak or abnormal expansion and with a permanent increase rate not exceeding ten percent (in the case of a general FRP composite container, five percent) must be judged acceptable, and in a pressure test, only a container free from any leak or abnormal expansion must be judged acceptable;

(iv)in the case of a general FRP composite container, that container must conform to standards specified by public notice.

(2)Among the standards provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act, the standards for ultra-low-temperature containers are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a container must undergo and pass a pneumatic test pursuant to the following:

(a)a pneumatic test must be implemented for each container;

(b)in a pneumatic test, only a container free from leak must be judged acceptable;

(ii)a container must undergo and pass a thermal insulation performance test pursuant to the following:

(a)a thermal insulation performance test must be implemented for each container;

(b)in a thermal insulation performance test, a container with heat penetration not exceeding 2 Joules/hour/°C/liter (in the case of a container with an internal volume exceeding 1,000 liters, 8 Joules/hour/°C/liter) must be judged acceptable.

(3)Among the standards provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act, the standards for seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a container must undergo and pass a visual inspection (limited to an inspection of the outer surface) pursuant to item (i) of paragraph (1); and

(ii)a container must pass a document inspection and ultrasonic inspection to be conducted as prescribed by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry for each container.

(4)Among the standards provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act, the standards for a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a container must undergo and pass a visual inspection (limited to an inspection of external surface) in accordance with paragraph (1), item (i);

(ii)a container must undergo and pass a leak test pursuant to the following items:

(a)the test must be implemented for each container;

(b)only a container free from any leak must be judged acceptable;

(iii)a container must conform to any other standards specified by public notice.

(5)Among the standards provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act, the standards for a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a container must undergo and pass a visual inspection (limited to an inspection of exterior surface) in accordance with paragraph (1), item (i);

(ii)a container must undergo and pass a leak test pursuant to the following items:

(a)the test must be implemented for each container;

(b)only a container free from any leak must be judged acceptable;

(iii)a container must pass a thermal insulation performance test or cooling performance test to be implemented pursuant to the provisions of public notice for each container;

(iv)a container must conform to other standards specified by public notice.

(6)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraphs, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the standards so approved may be treated as the container standards provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act.

(Period of Accessories Reinspection)

Article 27(1)The periods specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)for accessories fitted on a container (excluding those set forth in the following item through item(iii)), the period between the date on which the accessories pass an accessories inspection (in the case of accessories which have passed accessories reinspection, the date on which the accessories pass the most recent reinspection; hereinafter referred to as the "day on which the accessories pass the inspection, etc." in this Article) and the first container reinspection performed on the container on which the accessories are fitted after two years pass from the day on which the accessories pass the inspection, etc. (in the case of an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving, the first container reinspection after four years and one month pass from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes the inspection or from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes the reinspection performed in accordance with paragraph (1), items (i) and (iii) of the preceding Article);

(i)-2for accessories fitted on a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, the period between the month in which the accessories pass an accessories inspection (in the case of accessories which have passed an accessories reinspection, the month in which they pass the most recent reinspection; hereinafter referred to as the "month in which the accessories pass the inspection, etc." in this Article) and the first container reinspection performed on the container on which the accessories are fitted after two years pass from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the accessories pass the inspection, etc.;

(ii)for accessories fitted on a container with an internal volume less than 4,000 liters (limited to a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas, and excluding a high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles or a container fixed on a railroad vehicle), the period between the day on which the accessories pass the inspection, etc. and the date of the first container reinspection performed on the container on which the accessories are fitted after two years pass from the day on which the accessories pass the inspection, etc., in the case of a container aged six and a half years or less; or one year, in the case of a container aged more than six and a half years;

(iii)for accessories fitted on a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas that is fitted on an automobile, the period between the day on which the accessories pass the inspection, etc. and the date of the first container reinspection performed on the container on which the accessories are fitted after two years pass from the day on which the accessories pass the inspection, etc., in the case of a container aged seven and a half years or less; or one year, in the case of a container aged more than seven and a half years;

(iv)for accessories not fitted on a container, two years.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the period so approved may be treated as the period specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Act.

(Method of Accessories Reinspection)

Article 28(1)The method specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-4, paragraph (1) of the Act, is provided by public notice.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the method so approved may be treated as the method of accessories reinspection specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-4, paragraph (1) of the Act.

(Standards of Accessories for Accessories Reinspection)

Article 29(1)The standards by type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-4, paragraph (2) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)accessories must undergo and pass a visual inspection pursuant to the following:

(a)the inspection must be implemented for each accessory;

(b)only accessories free from any corrosion, crack, streak, corrugation, deformation, etc. which would adversely affect their use must be judged acceptable;

(ii)accessories (excluding those fitted on a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles) must undergo and pass a pneumatic test pursuant to the following:

(a)the test must be implemented for each accessory; provided, however, that in the case of accessories fitted on an acethylene container stuffed with porous substance, only one unit randomly chosen from accessories at the same accessories manufacturing site, on the same year/month/date, and from the same charge, and having the same dimension and shape, is to be tested. If the chosen unit have passed the test, the remaining accessories fitted on a container manufactured at the same manufacturing site and having the same internal volume, shape and manufacturing year/month indicated in their stamping, etc. are deemed to have passed the test;

(b)accessories free from any leak, etc. when under a pressure not less than a pneumatic test pressure according to the type of containers on which those accessories are fitted (in the case of a low-pressure safety valve for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobile, a pressure which is 2/3 of the pressure at which the volume of liquefied hydrogen to be filled in a container for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobiles on which the safety valve is to be fitted becomes 98% of the internal volume of the container) are judged acceptable;

(iii)accessories (limited to accessories fitted on a seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor) must pass a document inspection to be conducted as prescribed by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry;

(iv)accessories (limited to those fitted on a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles) must undergo and pass a leak test pursuant to the following:

(a)the test must be implemented for each accessory;

(b)only accessories free from any leak must be judged acceptable;

(v)accessories (limited to those to be used for a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles) must conform to the standards specified by public notice;

(vi)a valve (excluding a valve fitted on a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system) must conform to the following:

(a)a valve must be easy to open and close, and must function in a smooth manner;

(b)in the case of a valve to be fitted on a container to be filled liquefied petroleum gas, having a structure equipped with a thread for opening and closing the valve on its ground nut, the ground nut must be appropriately fixed on the main body of the valve by a pin or nut;

(vii)in the case of a safety valve (excluding a safety valve fitted on a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles, and also excluding rupture disk and fusible plug; hereinafter the same applies in this item), the safety valve must activate when under a pressure not exceeding 8/10 of the hydrostatic test pressure (in the case of accessories to be fitted on a plastic liner general FRP composite container, a pressure not exceeding the hydrostatic test pressure; in the case of a low-pressure safety valve for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobile, a pressure not less than 5/7 of the pressure at which volume of liquefied hydrogen to be filled in the container for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobile on which the safety valve is to be fitted becomes 98% of the internal volume of the container, but not exceeding the pressure at which the volume of the liquefied hydrogen becomes 98% of the internal volume of the container; and in the case of a high-pressure safety valve for liquefied hydrogen transportation automobile, a pressure not less than the pneumatic test pressure but not exceeding 1.3 times the maximum filling pressure) according to the type of high pressure gas to be filled in the container on which the safety valve is fitted;

(viii)in the case of an emergency shut off device, the shut off device must be capable of being activated by remote control.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if it is separately provided by public notice as those which would pose no safety risk, the standards specified by that public notice may be applied as the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-4, paragraph (2) of the Act, or, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the standards so approved may be applied as the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-4, paragraph (2) of the Act.

(Procedures of Registration of Container Reinspection Station)

Article 30(1)A person that intends to obtain a registration under Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit, for each container reinspection station, a written application for registration of container reinspection station using Form 5, attaching a written description of inspection equipment, to the prefectural governor (in the case where the container reinspection station is within the district of a designated city, and where the administrative business pertaining to the business establishment does not fall under the business provided in Article 22 of the Order, the head of the designated city having jurisdiction over the location of the container inspection station; the same applies in paragraph (1) of the following Article, Article 35 and Article 39) having jurisdiction over the location of the container reinspection station.

(2)The particulars corresponding to the standards set forth in Article 33 must be included in the written description of inspection equipment under the preceding paragraph.

(Procedures for Renewal of Registration of Container Reinspection Station)

Article 31(1)A person that intends to obtain a renewal of a registration pursuant to Article 50, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit, for each container reinspection station, a written application for renewal of registration of container reinspection station using Form 6 to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the container reinspection station.

(2)At the time of the application under the preceding paragraph, if the inspection equipment is different from those at the time of receiving a registration of the relevant container reinspection station (in the case where the registration has been renewed, the time of receiving the previous registration), the applicant must attach a written description of inspection equipment to the written application under the preceding paragraph.

(Registration Certificate of Container Reinspection Station)

Article 32(1)When the prefectural governor or the head of designated city makes a registration of a container reinspection station or renewal thereof pursuant to Article 50, paragraph (3) of the Act, the prefectural governor must issue a registration certificate for container reinspection station using Form 7 to the person that received the registration or renewal thereof.

(2)A person to whom a registration certificate for container reinspection station under the preceding paragraph has been issued must return the certificate to the prefectural governor or the head of designated city that issued the certificate without delay, if five years have passed from the date of issuance of the certificate, if the person has discontinued container reinspection service, or if the person's registration is rescinded pursuant to Article 53 of the Act.

(Standards of Inspection Equipment)

Article 33The technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 50, paragraph (3) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)in the case of a container reinspection station which conducts a reinspection of a welded container, brazed container, general seamless container, general FRP composite container or aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving, the station must be equipped with the following inspection equipment (limited to equipment appropriate to reinspected containers and their standards; the same applies hereinafter in this Article):

(a)equipment for cleaning rust off a container (excluding equipment for a low-temperature container), and equipment for cleansing and drying of a container;

(b)equipment for measuring dimensions of flaw, corrosion, etc. of a container;

(c)equipment for checking flaws and wall thickness of a container by way of ultrasonic inspection (limited to equipment for a seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor);

(d)equipment for a lighting inspection of internal surface of a container;

(e)a pressure gauge and an expansion indicator (limited to the case where a volumetric expansion test is conducted);

(f)equipment for collecting remaining gases (limited to equipment for a container specified in public notice);

(g)equipment for measuring painting thickness (limited to equipment for a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas and seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor);

(ii)for a container reinspection station which conducts reinspection of ultra-low-temperature containers, the station must be equipped with equipment for pneumatic test and thermal insulation performance test;

(iii)for a container reinspection station which conducts reinspection of a compressed natural gas containers for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen containers for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen containers for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen containers for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, and compressed hydrogen containers for transportation automobiles, the station must be equipped with the following equipment:

(a)equipment for cleansing the surface of a container;

(b)equipment for lighting inspection of the external surface of a container;

(c)equipment for measuring dimensions of a flaw, corrosion, etc. of a container; and

(d)equipment for a leak test;

(iv)for a container reinspection station which conducts reinspection of liquefied natural gas containers for automobile fuel system, the station must be equipped with the following inspection equipment:

(a)the equipment set forth in (a) through (d) of the preceding item; and

(b)equipment for thermal insulation performance test or cooling performance test;

(v)for a container reinspection station which conducts reinspection of accessories other than those fitted on compressed natural gas containers for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen containers for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen containers for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen containers for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas containers for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen containers for transportation automobiles, the station must be equipped with inspection equipment for pneumatic test and performance test;

(vi)for a container reinspection station which conducts reinspection of accessories fitted on compressed natural gas containers for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen containers for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen containers for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen containers for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas containers for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen containers for transportation automobiles, the station must be equipped with inspection equipment for leak test;

(vii)the inspection equipment set forth in the preceding items must conform to standards specified by public notice.

(Qualification of Chief Inspector)

Article 34A person with knowledge and experience satisfying the conditions specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 52, paragraph (1) of the Act, is a person set forth in any of the following items:

(i)a person that graduated from a university or college of technology under the School Education Act (Act No. 26 of 1947) or a university or professional training college under former provisions after completing the prescribed courses of chemistry, physics or engineering, and who has at least one year of practical experience in filling high pressure gas, manufacturing containers or accessories, or inspection service of containers or accessories;

(ii)a person that graduated from a high school under the School Education Act or a technical school under former provisions after completing prescribed courses of industrial technology, and who has at least two years of practical experience in filling high pressure gas, manufacturing containers or accessories, or inspection service of containers or accessories;

(iii)a person who has at least three years of practical experience in the manufacturing work of a container or accessories, or inspection service of a container or accessories; or

(iv)in the case of a container reinspection station which is dedicated to the inspection of compressed natural gas containers for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen containers for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen containers for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen containers for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas containers for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen containers for transportation automobiles, or the inspection of accessories fitted on compressed natural gas containers for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen containers for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen containers for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen containers for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas containers for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen containers for transportation automobiles, a person who has a qualification of a class-I large automobile maintenance engineer, class-I small automobile maintenance engineer, class-I motorcycle maintenance engineer, class-II gasoline automobile maintenance engineer, class-II diesel automobile maintenance engineer or class-II motorcycle maintenance engineer under Article 2 of the Regulation on Qualification Examination for automobile Maintenance Engineer (Order of the Ministry of Transport No. 71 of 1951).

(Notification of Appointment of Chief Inspector)

Article 35A person that intends to make a notification of appointment or dismissal of a chief inspector pursuant to Article 52, paragraph (2) of the Act must submit a written notification of chief inspector using Form 8, attaching a copy of the production safety management certificate received by the chief inspector or a document certifying the qualification under the preceding Article to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the container reinspection station; provided, however, that in the case of dismissal, an attachment of the copy or document may be omitted.

(Radiation Inspection in Container Reinspection)

Article 36(1)A prefectural governor, the head of the designated city, the Institute, a Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body or a person that obtained a registration of container reinspection station under Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act conducts radiation inspection of welded containers at the time of a container reinspection under that paragraph, if so requested by the person subject to the container reinspection.

(2)A prefectural governor, the head of the designated city, the Institute, a Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body or a person that obtained a registration of container reinspection station under Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act is to use the character "radiation" clearly indicated on a container that has passed the radiation inspection under the paragraph by engraving, etc.

(Stamping of Containers Which Have Passed Container Reinspection)

Article 37(1)A person that intends to stamp pursuant to Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Act must stamp in accordance with the following methods:

(i)the following particulars are to be stamped below or on the right side of the stamped mark under Article 8, paragraph (1) or Article 62; provided, however, that in the case of a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system or liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system for which stamping is difficult with the container fitted on an automobile or two-wheeled motor vehicle, stamping pursuant to Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Act may be replaced with attaching a marking plate in accordance with the method specified in item (iii) of the following paragraph, or in the case of a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles where stamping is difficult with the container fitted on an automobile, stamping pursuant to Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Act may be replaced with attaching a marking plate in accordance with the method specified in item (iv) of the following paragraph:

(a)a symbol representing the inspection agency;

(b)the year/month of the container reinspection (the year/month/date, in the case of a container with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters, high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles, compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system); and

(c)for a seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor, following the information specified in (b), a labeling indicating that (Code:UT);

(d)for a seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor which has undergone a visual inspection of threads for a valve fitting part after removing accessories by the method specified by Public Notice referred to in Article 25, paragraph (1), following the information specified in (c), a labeling indicating that (Code:VC);

(e)for an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving, following the information specified in (b), a labeling indicating the fact of implementation of a container reinspection in the case where that container has undergone a container reinspection pursuant to Article 26, paragraph (1), items (i) and (iii) (Code: L), and a labeling indicating the fact of implementation of a container reinspection in the case where that container has undergone a container reinspection pursuant to the proviso to the same paragraph (Code: S);

(ii)if there is any change in mass of a container from the time of previous container reinspection (in the case of a container which has never undergone a container reinspection, a container inspection; hereinafter the same applies in this item and item (ii) of the following paragraph), the mass at the time of the current container reinspection is to be stamped below or on the right side of the mass at the time of the previous container reinspection, and the stamped mark of the mass at the time of the previous container reinspection is to be crossed by stamping two parallel lines over it; provided, however, that this does not apply to an acethylene container stuffed with porous substance, a low-temperature container or a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas when it is fitted on an automobile.

(2)A person that intends to attach a marking plate pursuant to Article 49, paragraph (4) of the Act must attach the marking place in accordance with the method set forth in the following items (i) and (iv), in the case of a container other than a seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor, compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system, general FRP composite container (limited to a full-wrapped container), plastic liner general FRP composite container and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles; the methods specified in items (i) through (iv) in the case of a seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor; the method specified in item (v) in the case of a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system; or the method set forth in item (vi) in the case of a metal liner general FRP composite container (limited to a full-wrapped container), plastic liner general FRP composite container and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles:

(i)firmly attach, below or on the right side of mark under Article 8, paragraph (3) engraved on a marking plate under the same paragraph or Article 62 affixed to the container when it passes the container inspection, a thin plate on which a mark with the name of the inspection agency and the year/month of the container reinspection (in the case of a container with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters and high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles, the year/month/date) is engraved in a clear and indelible manner;

(ii)in case of a seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor, a code referred to in item (i), (c) of the preceding paragraph must be engraved on the thin plate referred to in the preceding item in a legible and indelible manner;

(iii)in the case of a seamless container for manufacturing semiconductor that has undergone a visual inspection of threads for a valve fitting part after removing accessories by the method specified by the Public Notice referred to in Article 25, paragraph (1), following the information referred to in the preceding item, engrave the code referred to in item (i), (d) of the preceding paragraph in a legible and indelible manner;

(iv)if there is any change in the mass of a container from the time of the previous container reinspection, the mass at the time of the current container reinspection must be engraved on the thin plate referred to in item (i) in a clear and indelible manner, and the engraved mark of the mass at the time of the previous container reinspection must be crossed by engraving two parallel lines over it; provided, however, that this does not apply to an acethylene container staffed with porous substance and a low-temperature container;

(v)a certificate specified by public notice is affixed pursuant to public notice; or

(vi)firmly attach, below or on the right side of the mark under Article 8, paragraph (3) engraved on a marking plate specified in the same paragraph or Article 62 affixed to the container when it passes the container inspection, a segment of aluminum foil on which a mark with the name of the inspection agency and the year/month of the container reinspection (in the case of a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles, the year/month/date) is engraved in a clear and indelible manner.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, for a container which conforms to Article 10 of the Civil Aeronautics Act, the standard specified in Article 14-2, paragraph (10) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Civil Aeronautics Act may be applied as a stamping under Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Act or an attaching of a mark under paragraph (4) of the same Article, or, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the standard so approved may be applied as a stamping under Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Act or an attaching of a mark under paragraph (4) of the same Article.

(Stamping of Accessories Which Have Passed Accessories Reinspection)

Article 38(1)A person that intends to stamp pursuant to Article 49-3, paragraph (3) of the Act must stamp a symbol representing the name of the inspection agency and the year/month/date of the accessories reinspection (in the case of accessories to be fitted on a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, the year/month), by stamping them below or on the right side of the stamped mark under Article 18, paragraph (1) or Article 68; provided, however, that for accessories not fit for stamping, the person may, in lieu of the above, use a method specified by public notice.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for accessories which conform to Article 10 of the Civil Aeronautics Act, the standards specified in Article 14-2, paragraph (10) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Civil Aeronautics Act may be applied as stamping pursuant to Article 49-4, paragraph (3) of the Act, or, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the standard so approved may be applied as stamping pursuant to Article 49-4, paragraph (3) of the Act.

(Notification of Discontinuance of Container Reinspection Station)

Article 39A person that intends to make a notification of discontinuance of reinspection service at a container reinspection station pursuant to Article 56-2 of the Act must submit a written notification of discontinuance of business of a container reinspection station using Form 9 to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the container reinspection station.

Chapter VIII Registration Relating to Container Inspection and Accessories Inspection

Section 1 Standards for Registration

(Business Category Regarding Containers)

Article 40The business categories regarding containers, etc. specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-5, paragraph (1) of the Act, are categories consisting of classes I to XVI set forth in the right column of Appended Table 2, in accordance with the categories as respectively set forth in the left column of the same appended table.

(Application for Registration)

Article 41(1)A manufacturer of container, etc. that intends to obtain a registration under Article 49-5, paragraph (1) of the Act pursuant to the provisions of the same paragraph must submit a written application for registration using Form 10 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (in the case of a manufacturer of containers, etc. that has a manufacturing site or business facility for manufacturing containers or accessories only in the same jurisdictional district of the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry having jurisdiction over the site or facility; hereinafter the same applies in this Article, Article 49, Article 51, Article 52, Article 53, Article 57, Article 59, Article 63 and Article 65).

(2)The documents specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-5, paragraph (3) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)articles of incorporation and a certificate of registered information;

(ii)a document including officers' names and resumes;

(iii)regulations for inspection of containers, etc.; and

(iv)a drawing of the manufacturing site or business facility.

(3)In case where the applicant does not attach the documents specified in Article 46, paragraph (2) to the written application under the preceding paragraph, the applicant must submit a written application for inspection using Form 11 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(4)To the written application under paragraph (1), a document certified by a person considered to be appropriate by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry that the quality control method and organization for inspection at the manufacturing site or business facility pertaining to the application (hereinafter referred to as a "quality control method, etc.") conform to the standard specified in the Japan Industrial Standards under the Industrial Standardization Act (Act No. 185 of 1949) (hereinafter referred to as the "JIS") Z9901 (1994) or JIS Z9902 (1994), among the technical standards specified in Article 44, paragraph (2).

(5)In the case of inspection conducted by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or investigation conducted by the Institute or Agency for Investigating Inspection Organizations, etc. in relation to an application for registration,, the portion relating to the document specified in the preceding paragraph may be omitted.

(Manufacturing Equipment for Containers and Accessories)

Article 42The manufacturing equipment for containers, etc. specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-5, paragraph (2), item (iv) of the Act, is the equipment that is necessary according to the business category regarding containers, etc., and the technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-7, item (i) of the Act, is the capability to manufacture a container subject to self-inspection in an appropriate manner.

(Inspection Equipment for Containers and Accessories)

Article 43The inspection equipment for containers, etc. specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-5, paragraph (2), item (v) of the Act, is the equipment that is necessary according to the business category regarding containers, etc., and the technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-7, item (ii) of the Act, is the capability to inspect a container subject to self-inspection in an appropriate manner.

(Quality Control Methods and Organization for Inspection)

Article 44(1)The matters relating to the quality control method, etc. specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-5, paragraph (2), item (vi) of the Act, are quality system requirements of JIS Z9901 (1994) which are necessary for ensuring appropriateness of the quality control method, etc. for containers, etc. subject to self-inspection.

(2)The technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-7, item (iii) of the Act, are the standards specified in the quality system requirements of JIS 9901 (1994) and the standards which are necessary for ensuring appropriateness of the quality management method, etc. for containers, etc. subject to self-inspection.

(Qualifications and the Number of Inspectors)

Article 45(1)The qualifications specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-7, item (iv) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)a person who has a class A mechanical safety management certificate, class B mechanical safety management certificates or class A chemical safety management certificate, or who graduated from a university or college of technology under the School Education Act or a university or professional training college under former provisions after completing the prescribed courses of physical science or engineering, and who has at least one year of practical experience in inspection service of containers or accessories;

(ii)a person that graduated a high school under the School Education Act or a technical school under former provisions after completing prescribed courses of engineering, and who has at least two years of practical experience in inspection service of containers or accessories; or

(iii)a person who has at least five years of practical experience in inspection service of containers or accessories.

(2)The number of inspectors specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-7, item (iv) of the Act, is two.

(Application for Investigation by the Institute)

Article 46(1)A manufacturer of containers, etc. that intends to undergo an investigation under Article 49-8, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application for investigation using Form 12 to the Institute or Agency for Investigating Inspection Organizations, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the "Institute, etc.").

(2)The format of the document under Article 49-8, paragraph (2) of the Act is as specified in Form 13.

(Renewal of Registration)

Article 47A person that intends to renew the registration under Article 49-9 of the Act must make an application in accordance with Article 41, paragraph (1).

(Registration Certificate)

Article 48The format of the registration certificate under Article 49-11, paragraph (1) of the Act is as specified in Form 14.

(Notification of Changes)

Article 49A person that intends to make a notification of change under Article 49-12 of the Act must submit a written notification of change using Form 15 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(Minor Changes)

Article 50The minor changes specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-12 of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(i)replacement of manufacturing equipment for containers, etc. relating to the registration with manufacturing equipment with equivalent or higher capabilities; or

(ii)replacement of inspection equipment for containers, etc. relating to the registration with inspection equipment with equivalent or higher capabilities; or

(iii)matters relating to the quality control method and inspection organization relating to the registration, which are set forth in the following (a) and (b):

(a)change of person exercising authorities and performing duties in place of a manager under JIS Z9901 (1994), when the manager is absent; or

(b)change of suppliers of materials, parts, etc.

(Notification of Discontinuance of Business)

Article 51A person that intends to make a notification of discontinuance of the registered business pursuant to Article 49-14 of the Act must submit a written notification of discontinuance of business using Form 16 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(Reissuance of Registration Certificate)

Article 52A person that intends to obtain reissuance of a registration certificate pursuant to Article 49-15 of the Act must submit a written application for reissuance of registration certificate using Form 17 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(Request for Issuance or Inspection of Certified Copy of Registry)

Article 53A person that intends to make a request for issuance or inspection of a certified copy of the registry pursuant to Article 49-20 of the Act must submit a written request for issuance (inspection) of certified copy of the registry using Form 18 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(Storage by Electronic or Magnetic Means)

Article 53-2(1)The inspection record provided in Article 49-24, paragraph (2) of the Act may be prepared and stored by electronic or magnetic means (meaning an electronic form, a magnetic form or any other form not recognizable to human perception).

(2)In the case of storage under the preceding paragraph, the inspection record under the same paragraph must be immediately made available as may be necessary, using a computer or any other equipment.

(3)When storing pursuant to paragraph (1), the person must endeavor to ensure compliance with the standards specified by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(Application of Foreign Manufacturer of Containers)

Article 54(1)A person that intends to obtain a registration under Article 49-31, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application for registration of foreign manufacturer using Form 19, attaching the documents set forth in Article 41, paragraph (2), to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(2)In the case where the applicant does not attach the documents specified in Article 46, paragraph (2) to the written application under the preceding paragraph, the applicant must submit a written application for inspection using Form 20 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(3)A person that intends to undergo an investigation by the Institute, etc. pursuant to Article 49-8, paragraph (1) of the Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 49-31, paragraph (2) of the Act must submit a written application for investigation using Form 21 to the Institute, etc.

(4)The provisions of Article 41, paragraphs (4) and (5) apply mutatis mutandis to the application under paragraph (1).

(Notification of Changes Relating to Registered Foreign Manufacturer of Containers)

Article 55(1)A registered foreign manufacturer of containers, etc. that intends to make a notification of change pursuant to Article 49-12 of the Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 49-31, paragraph (2) of the Act must submit a written notification of change using Form 22 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(2)A registered foreign manufacturer of containers, etc. that intends to make a notification of discontinuance of business pursuant to Article 49-14 of the Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 49-31, paragraph (2) of the Act must submit a written notification of discontinuance of business using Form 23 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(3)A registered foreign manufacturer of containers, etc. that intends to reissue the relevant registration certification pursuant to Article 49-15 of the Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 49-31, paragraph (2) of the Act must submit a written application for reissuance of registration certificate using Form 24 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(Application, Mutatis Mutandis)

Article 56The provisions of Article 40, Articles 42 to 45, Article 46, paragraph (2), Article 47, Article 48 and Article 53 apply to the registration under Article 54, paragraph (1); and the provisions of Article 50 and Article 53-2 apply mutatis mutandis to a registered foreign manufacturer of containers, etc.

Section 2 Type Approval

(Application for Type Approval of Containers)

Article 57A person that intends to obtain a type approval of a container pursuant to Article 49-21, paragraph (1) and Article 49-33, paragraph (1) of the Act for a container specified in the same paragraphs must submit a written application for type approval of container using Form 25 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(Containers and Documents Required for Type Approval)

Article 58(1)The quantity of containers specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-21, paragraph (3) of the Act (including the case where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 49-33, paragraph (2) of the Act; the same applies in the following paragraph and Article 64) is the quantity of containers necessary to ensure compliance with the container standards set forth in Article 7, paragraph (1).

(2)The documents from among the ones specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-21, paragraph (3) of the Act, which are related to a type approval of containers are as set forth in the following items:

(i)structure drawing;

(ii)wall thickness calculation statement; and

(iii)certificate of materials.

(Container Type Approval Certificate)

Article 59When the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry approves a container type pursuant to Article 49-22 of the Act (including the case where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 49-33, paragraph (2) of the Act; the same applies in Article 65), the minister is to issue a container type approval certificate using Form 26.

(Application for Test)

Article 60A person that intends to undergo tests under Article 49-23, paragraph (1) of the Act that are related to containers must submit a written application for container type approval test using Form 27, to the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body.

(Container Type Test Compliance Certificate)

Article 61If the relevant container passes the test pursuant to Article 49-23, paragraph (3) of the Act, the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body must issue a container type test compliance certificate using Form 28.

(Methods of Stamping by Registered Manufacturers of Containers and Registered Foreign Manufacturers of Containers)

Article 62A person that intends to carry out stamping, etc. pursuant to Article 49-25, paragraph (1) or (2) (including the case where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 49-33, paragraph (2) of the Act) must carry out stamping, etc. in accordance with Article 8.In this case, the term "symbol representing the name of inspection agency" is deemed to be replaced with "type approval number"; the phrase "container manufacturer (in the case where a party that has undergone the inspection is not the container manufacturer, names or symbols representing the container manufacturer and the party that has undergone the inspection)" is deemed to be replaced with "registered container manufacturer"; and the phrase "the container passes a container inspection" is deemed to be replaced with "the container is manufactured".

(Application for Type Approval of Accessories)

Article 63A person that intends to obtain a type approval of accessories pursuant to Article 49-21, paragraph (1) and Article 49-33, paragraph (1) of the Act for accessories specified in the same paragraphs must submit a written application for type approval of accessories using Form 29 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(Accessories and Documents Required for Type Approval)

Article 64(1)The quantity of accessories specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-21, paragraph (3) of the Act, is the quantity of accessories necessary to ensure compliance with the accessories standards set forth in Article 17, paragraph (1).

(2)The documents from among the ones specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-21, paragraph (3) of the Act, which are related to a type approval of accessories are as set forth in the following items:

(i)structure drawing; and

(ii)certificate of materials.

(Accessories Type Approval Certificate)

Article 65If the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry approves accessories type pursuant to Article 49-22 of the Act, the minister is to issue an accessories type approval certificate using Form 30.

(Application for Test)

Article 66A person that intends to undergo tests under Article 49-23, paragraph (1) of the Act that are related to accessories must submit a written application for accessories type approval test using Form 31, to the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body.

(Accessories Type Test Compliance Certificate)

Article 67If the relevant accessories pass the test pursuant to Article 49-23, paragraph (3) of the Act, the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body must issue an accessories type test compliance certificate using Form 32.

(Stamping by Registered Accessories Manufacturers and Registered Foreign Accessories Manufacturers)

Article 68A person that intends to carry out stamping, etc. pursuant to Article 49-25, paragraph (3) of the Act (including the case where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 49-33, paragraph (2) of the Act) must carry out stamping, etc. in accordance with Article 18.In this case, the term "the accessories pass the accessories inspection" is deemed to be replaced with "the accessories are manufactured"; the phrase "symbol representing the name of inspection agency" is deemed to be replaced with "type approval number"; the phrase "accessories manufacturer (in the case where a party that has undergone the inspection is not the accessories manufacturer, names or symbols representing the accessories manufacturer and the party that has undergone the inspection)" is deemed to be replaced with "registered accessories manufacturer".

Chapter IX Miscellaneous Provisions

(Report of Non-Compliance with Standards of Containers)

Article 69When the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body intends to make a report under Article 56, paragraph (2) of the Act, it must submit a report on non-compliance with container standards in Form 33, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry having jurisdiction over the location of the relevant container (in the case of a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fixed on a railroad vehicle), to the prefectural governor having the jurisdiction over the location of the relevant container).

(Report of Non-Compliance with Standards of Accessories)

Article 70If the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body intends to make a report under Article 56, paragraph (2) of the Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (4) of the same Article, it must submit a report on non-compliance with accessories standards using Form 34, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry having jurisdiction over the location of the relevant accessories (in the case of accessories to be fitted on a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fixed on a railroad vehicle), to the prefectural governor having the jurisdiction over the location of the relevant accessories).

(Books)

Article 71(1)The matters to be entered in books under Article 60, paragraph (1) of the Act are the matters set forth in the right column of the following appended table, in accordance with the categories of the persons set forth in the left column of the same appended table.

Categories of parties required to be entered in books	Matters to be entered
Container manufacturer	(i) When stamping, etc. was made:
	Type approval number (limited to a container with a self inspection stamp, etc.), code and number of the container, type of gas to be filled, internal volume, year/month/date of manufacture, year/month/date of container inspection (excluding a container with a self inspection stamp, etc.), place and results of container inspection, and manufacturer of materials
	(ii) When a container is assigned:
	Code and number of the container, the name of assignee, and the year/month/date of assignment
Party which has obtained registration of container re-inspection station	(i) When a reinspection of container was conducted: code and number of the container, year/month/date of the re-inspection, and its results
	(ii) When a reinspection of accessories was conducted:
	Code and number of the accessories, year/month/date of the accessories reinspection, and its results

(2)A person that obtained a registration of a container manufacturer and container reinspection station pursuant to Article 60, paragraph (1) of the Act must keep books including the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph for each of containers and accessories, and must store them for the period set forth in the following items:

(i)in the case of a welded container, etc. (excluding those set forth in the following item and item (viii)), the period until the day before one month passes from the day before five years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, in the case of a container aged less than 20 years; or in the case of a container aged 20 years or more, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before two years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the same paragraph;

(ii)for a welded container, etc. with an internal volume not exceeding 25 liters and whose hydrostatic test pressure does not exceed 3.0 megapascal (excluding a container to be filled with hydrogen cyanide, ammonia or chlorine) which has passed a container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act or a radiation inspection specified in Article 36, paragraph (1) on or after July 1955, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before six years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, in the case of a container aged less than 20 years; or the period until the day before one month passes from the day before two years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, in the case of a container aged 20 years or more;

(iii)for a general seamless container, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before five years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph;

(iv)for a general FRP composite container, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before three years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph;

(v)for a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before four years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, in the case of a container aged four years or less, or the period until the day before one month passes from the day before two years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, in the case of a container aged more than four years and one month;

(vi)for a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system and compressed hydrogen container for two-wheeled motor vehicle fuel system, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before four years and one month pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, in the case of a container aged four years and one month or less; or the period until the day before one month passes from the day before two years and three months pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the same paragraph, in the case of a container aged more than four years and one month;

(vii)for an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before five years and one month pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph;

(viii)for a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas when it is fitted on an automobile, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before six years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, in the case of a container aged less than 20 years; or the period until the day before one month passes from the day before two years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the same paragraph, in the case of a container aged 20 years or more;

(ix)for a non-refillable container, the period until the day before one month passes from the day on which six years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph;

(x)for accessories fitted on a container (excluding those set forth in the following item and item (xii)), the period until the day before one month passes from the date of the first container reinspection after two years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph (in the case of an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving, the first container reinspection after four years and one month pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph);

(xi)for accessories fitted on a container with an internal volume less than 4,000 liters (limited to a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas, but excluding a high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles or a container fixed on a railroad vehicle), the period until the day before one month passes from the date of the first container reinspection after two years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, in the case of accessories aged six and a half years or less; or the period until the day before one month passes from the day before one year passes from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, in the case of accessories aged more than six and a half years;

(xii)for accessories fitted on a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas when it is fitted on an automobile, the period until the day before one month passes from the date of the first container reinspection after two years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph, in the case of accessories aged seven and a half years or less; or the period until the day before one month passes from the day before one year passes from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the same paragraph, in the case of accessories aged seven and a half years or more;

(xiii)for accessories not fitted on a container, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before two years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the period for which a person that has received a registration of a container manufacturer and a container reinspection station must maintain and store the books including the matters set forth in paragraph (1) for each of containers and accessories are as specified in the following items:

(i)for a liquefied petroleum gas container for automobile fuel system to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas when it is fitted on an automobile under Article 24, paragraph (2), which has never underwent a container reinspection, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before the period specified in Article 24, paragraph (2) pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in paragraph (1);

(ii)in the case where an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry under Article 24, paragraph (3) is obtained, the period until the day before one month passes from the day before the period approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry specified in Article 24, paragraph (3) passes from the date of entry of the matters set forth in paragraph (1);

(iii)in the case where an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry under Article 27, paragraph (2) is obtained, the period until the day on which one month passes from the day before the period approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry specified in Article 27, paragraph (2) passes from the date of entry of the matters set forth in paragraph (1).

(4)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, if a container manufacturer assigns a container, the period for which the container manufacturer must maintain and store the books including the matters set forth in paragraph (1) for each of containers are as specified in the following items:

(i)in the case of a container other than a non-refillable container, the period until the day before one month passes from the date of the first container reinspection date after the date of entry of the matters set forth in paragraph (1);

(ii)for a non-refillable container, the period until the day before one month pass from the day before six years pass from the date of entry of the matters set forth in paragraph (1).

(Standards of Containers and Accessories to Be Fitted on Railway Vehicles)

Article 72(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7 or Article 26, the standards for inspection or reinspection of a container to be fitted on a railroad vehicle are specified by public notice of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 17 or Article 29, the standards for inspection or reinspection of accessories to be fitted on a railroad vehicle are specified by public notice of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Supplementary Provisions[Extract]

(1)This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of October 1, 1966.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 44 of April 22, 1967]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 150 of November 10, 1967 extract][Extract]

(1)This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of November 15, 1967; provided, however, that the amended provisions of Article 40, item (iii) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers come into effect as of January 1, 1968, and the amended provisions of Article 43 of the same Regulation come into effect as of May 1, 1968.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 127 of December 16, 1968 extract][Extract]

(1)This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation; provided, however, that the amended provisions of Article 42 of the Regulation on Safety of Containers come into effect as of January 1, 1969.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 5 of February 18, 1976]

(1)This Ministerial Order comes into force as of the enforcement date (February 22, 1976) of the Act Partially Amending the High Pressure Gas Control Act (Act No. 30 of 1975; hereinafter referred to as the "Amendment Act").

(2)If stamping the mark under Article 45-2, paragraph (1) of the Act on a container pursuant to Article 49, paragraph (4) of the Act, as applied following the deemed replacement of terms pursuant to Article 9, paragraph (1) of the Supplementary Provisions to the Amendment Act, the portion relating to the symbol representing the name of the inspection agency in the provisions of Article 36-2, item (i) of the amended Regulation on Safety of Containers (hereinafter referred to as the "New Regulation") do not apply.

(3)For a container with an internal volume not less than 5,000 liters which has passed a container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act before the enforcement of this Ministerial Order and which is to be filled with flammable gas other than liquefied petroleum gas, toxic gas (excluding chlorine) or liquefied oxygen gas (excluding a container with an internal volume not less than 5,000 liters to be filled with flammable gas other than liquefied petroleum gas that has a boiling point under atmosphere pressure of 0°C or below which is filled in the container at the temperature of 0°C or below or under the liquefied state wherein the normal operating pressure at the gas phase portion is 1 kg/cm2 or less), the provisions of Article 42, item (iii) of the New Regulation do not apply until January 31, 1978.

(4)The date of the first container reinspection after the enforcement of this Ministerial Order that a container which has passed the container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act before the enforcement of this Ministerial Order and which falls under the category of a container specified in Article 47, item (ii)-2 and item (ii)-3 of the New Regulation is to undergo is, notwithstanding these provisions, the date calculated based on the period of container reinspection specified in Article 47, item (ii) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers prior to amendment.

(5)Prior laws continue to govern the application of the provisions of Article 47, item (ii)-2 of the New Regulation to a double-phased structure container with an internal volume not less than 50 liters but less than 120 liters (limited to a container to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas) manufactured by deep drawing method for the time being.

(6)For inspection equipment of a container reinspection station of a person that has received a registration of a container reinspection station under Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act before the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, the provisions of Article 52, item (i), sub-item (d) of the New Regulation do not apply until January 31, 1977.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 36 of August 14, 1978]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 29 of August 1, 1980]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 23 of June 25, 1982]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of July 1, 1982.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 36 of July 23, 1982]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of August 23, 1982.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 2 of January 21, 1985]

(Effective Date)

(1)This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of promulgation; provided, however, that the provisions of Article 34-2, Article 36-2, Article 41 and Article 41-2 of the Regulation on Safety of Containers amended by this Ministerial Order (hereinafter referred to as the "New Regulation") come into effect as of the date on which nine months have passed from the date of promulgation.

(Transitional Measures)

(2)For a specified container provided in the proviso to Article 47, paragraph (1) of the High Pressure Gas Safety Act that has become the specified container before the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, which has never undergone a container reinspection after the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, the provisions of the proviso to Article 47, paragraph (1) of the New Regulation do not apply.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 11 of March 31, 1986]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 48 of September 30, 1986]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of October 1, 1986.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 29 of May 11, 1992]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of May 15, 1992.

(Transitional Measures Relating to the Regulation on Safety of Containers)

Article 5(1)A person that intends to return a container certificate pursuant to Article 5, paragraph (1) of the Supplementary Provisions to the Amendment Act is to return the certificate in accordance with the methods set forth in the following items, to the Institute in the case of the container certificate issued by the Institute, to the Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body in the case of the container certificate issued by the Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body, or to the administrative agency in the case of the container certificate issued by the administrative agency:

(i)in the case of a container which has passed a container reinspection (limited to the case where the person that implemented the container reinspection is different from the person that issued the container certificate), the container certificate is returned through the person that implemented the container reinspection;

(ii)in the case of a container for which a container certificate was issued by an administrative agency, with stamping, etc. under Article 54, paragraph (2) of the High Pressure Gas Safety Act amended by the Amendment Act (hereinafter referred to as the "New Act") (limited to the case where the administrative agency which carried out the stamping, etc. is different from the administrative agency which issued the certificate), the container certificate is returned through the administrative agency which carried out the stamping, etc.;

(iii)in other cases, the container certificate is returned directly by the person for whom the container certificate was issued.

(2)In the case of stamping pursuant to Article 45, paragraph (1) of the New Act or attaching the marking plate pursuant to paragraph (2) of the same Article on a container pursuant to Article 49, paragraph (3) or (4) of the New Act, as applied following the deemed replacement of terms pursuant to Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Supplementary Provisions to the Cabinet Order Partially Amending the Order for Enforcement of the High Pressure Gas Control Act (Cabinet Order No. 170 of 1992), the portion relating to the symbol representing the name of the inspection agency in the provisions of Article 36-2, paragraph (1), item (i) of the amended Regulation on Safety of Containers does not apply.

(3)A mark stamped on a container pursuant to the proviso to Article 36-2, paragraph (1) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers prior to amendment at the time of enforcement of this Ministerial Order is deemed as a marking plate attached pursuant to Article 36-2, paragraph (3) of the amended Regulation on Safety of Containers.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 58 of July 27, 1994]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of promulgation; provided, however, that prior laws may be chosen to continue to govern the application of the amended provisions of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Explosives Control Act, the Regulation on Safety of Containers, the Regulation on Safety of Refrigeration, the Regulation on Safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas, the Regulation on High Pressure Gas Safety Manager, the Regulation on Safety of Industrial Complexes and the Regulation for Enforcement of the Act on the Securing of Safety and the Optimization of Transaction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas until March 31, 1995.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 20 of March 21, 1997]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of April 1, 1997.

(Transitional Measures)

Article 2Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 26, for a container inspection or container reinspection of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite container which standards, are determined by the Minister of International Trade and Industry as presenting no safety risk pursuant to Article 6, paragraph (2), Article 11, paragraph (1), Article 36-2, paragraph (4), Article 40, paragraph (4), Article 47, paragraph (2), Article 48, paragraph (2) and Article 56-2, paragraph (3) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers prior to amendment by this Ministerial Order (hereinafter referred to as the "Former Regulation") prior to the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, and which is to undergo a container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act or a container reinspection under Article 49 of the Act on or after the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order, the standards of containers by type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure to be specified by Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 44, paragraph (4) of the Act, and the standards by type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure to be specified by Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act continue to be governed by prior laws and may be the standards determined by the Minister of International Trade and Industry to involve no safety risk.

Article 3For a container which is of the same type as a container which has undergone and has passed the container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act prior to the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to a general FRP composite container), the term "design verification test and batch test") in Article 7, paragraph (1), item (i), (b) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers amended by this Ministerial Order (hereinafter referred to as the "New Regulation") may be replaced with "batch test".

Article 4(1)For a container which is of the same type as a seamless compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system (limited to a container which undergoes and passes the container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act prior to the enforcement of this Ministerial Order) and a composite compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system (limited to those for which the standards are determined by the Minister of International Trade and Industry as presenting no safety risk pursuant to Article 6, paragraph (2), Article 11, paragraph (1), Article 36-2, paragraph (4), Article 40, paragraph (4), Article 47, paragraph (2), Article 48, paragraph (2) and Article 56-2, paragraph (3) of the Former Regulation, prior to the enforcement of this Ministerial Order) (hereinafter referred to as a "designated container"), the term "design verification test and batch test" in Article 7, paragraph (1), item (i), (b) of the New Regulation may be replaced with "batch test", for the period between the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order and March 31, 1998.

(2)In the case prescribed in the preceding paragraph, if the type of the designated container has undergone and passed a design verification test within the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to March 31, 1998, the designated container which has undergone and passed the container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph within the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to the date on which the type of the designated container has undergone and passed the design verification test is deemed to have passed the design verification test.

(3)In the case referred to in paragraph (1), notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, items (xi) and (xii) of the New Regulation, for the purpose of application of the provisions of Articles 24 through 26 and Article 37 of the New Regulation, if the type of the designated container has not undergone or passed a design verification test within the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to March 31, 1998, the designated container which is a seamless container and which has undergone and passed the container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act pursuant to paragraph (1) within the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to March 31, 1998 is deemed as a general seamless container, and the designated container which is a fiber-reinforced plastic composite container is deemed as a general FRP composite container.

Article 5Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 8 of the New Regulation, a person that intends to carry out stamping, etc. pursuant to Article 45, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act continue to be governed by prior laws and may carry it until September 30, 1997.

Article 6Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 8, paragraphs (1), (3) and (4) of the New Regulation, stamping, etc. already carried out on a container under Article 36-2, paragraphs (1), (3) and (4) of the Former Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order is deemed as stamping, etc. under Article 45, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act.

Article 7For a container which is already labeled pursuant to the provisions of Article 40, paragraph (3) of the Former Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, the provisions of Article 10, paragraph (3) of the New Regulation may be exempted from application for the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to March 31, 1998.

Article 8(1)For the type of accessories to be fitted on a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system (limited to the accessories which have undergone and passed the accessories inspection under Article 49-2, paragraph (1) of the Act prior to the enforcement of this Ministerial Order), the term "design verification test and batch test" in Article 17, paragraph (1) of the New Regulation may be replaced with "batch test" for the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to September 30, 1998.

(2)In the case prescribed in the preceding paragraph, if the type of the accessories has undergone and passed a design verification test within the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to September 30, 1997, the accessories which have undergone and passed the accessories inspection under Article 49-2, paragraph (1) of the Act pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph within the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to the date on which the type of the accessories has undergone and passed the design verification test are deemed to have passed the design verification test.

(3)In the case referred to in paragraph (1), for the purpose of application of the provisions of Articles 27 to 29 and Article 38 of the New Regulation, if the type of the accessories has not undergone or passed a design verification test within the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to September 30, 1997, the accessories which have undergone and passed the accessories inspection under Article 49-2, paragraph (1) of the Act between the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to September 30, 1997 pursuant to paragraph (1) are deemed as accessories not fitted on a compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system.

Article 9Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 18 of the New Regulation, a person that intends to stamp a mark pursuant to Article 49-3, paragraph (1) of the Act continue to be governed by prior laws and may stamp the mark until September 30, 1997.

Article 10Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 18 of the New Regulation, a mark already stamped on accessories under Article 41-11 of the Former Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order is deemed as a stamped mark under Article 49-3, paragraphs (1) of the Act.

Article 11For a container with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters but less than 5,000 liters which has undergone and passed the container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, the provisions of Article 19, items (ii) to (v) of the New Regulation do not apply.

Article 12For a container or accessories which already have passed the container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act or the accessories inspection under Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, which are set forth in the left column of the following appended table, are deemed as containers or accessories set forth in the right column of the same appended table, for the purpose of application of the provisions respectively set forth in the middle column of the same appended table.

Container or accessories	Provisions	Container or accessories
Seamless compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system	Articles 24 through 26 and Article 37 of the New Regulation	Seamless container
Accessories actually fitted on compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system	Articles 27 through 29 and Article 38 of the New Regulation	Accessories not fitted on compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system

Article 13Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 33, item (i) of the New Regulation, prior laws may be chosen to continue to govern the inspection equipment which has obtained a registration of a container inspection station under Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, and which reinspects a general seamless container, welded container, brazed container or general FRP composite container, for the period from the date of enforcement of this Ministerial Order to March 31, 1997.

Article 14Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 37 of the New Regulation, stamping, etc. already carried out on a container under Article 56-2 of the Former Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order is deemed as stamping, etc. under Article 49, paragraphs (3) and (4) of the Act.

Article 15Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 38 of the New Regulation, a mark already stamped on accessories under Article 56-3 of the Former Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order is deemed as a stamped mark under Article 49-4, paragraph (3) of the Act.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 39 of March 27, 1997]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the day of promulgation; provided, however, that the provisions of Articles 7 to 10 and Articles 12 to 15 come into effect as of April 2, 1997.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 107 of September 24, 1997]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of promulgation; provided, however, that the amended provisions of Article 24, paragraph (2) come into effect as of the day on which six months pass from the date of promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 125 of December 26, 1997]

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of April 1, 1998.

Article 2Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 24, paragraph (1) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers amended by this Ministerial Order (hereinafter referred to as the "New Regulation" in the following Article), prior laws continue to govern the period of container reinspection for a container which passed the container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act on or before March 31, 1989.

Article 3The date of the first container reinspection after the enforcement of this Ministerial Order that a container which has passed the container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act before the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (excluding a container specified in the preceding Article) which falls under the category of a container specified in Article 24, paragraph (1), items (i) to (v) of the New Regulation is to undergo is, notwithstanding these provisions, the date calculated based on the period of container reinspection specified in the items of Article 24, paragraph (1) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers prior to amendment by this Ministerial Order.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 28 of March 27, 1998]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of April 1, 1998.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 37 of March 31, 1999 extract][Extract]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of April 1, 1999.

(Transitional Measures for Partial Amendment to the Regulation on Safety of Containers)

Article 2Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 24, paragraph (1), Article 26, paragraph (4) and Article 29 of the Regulation on Safety of Containers amended by this Ministerial Order, prior laws may be chosen to continue to govern a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system which has undergone and passed a container inspection pursuant to Article 44 of the Act before the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(Continuous Effect of Procedures)

Article 5Beyond what is provided in Articles 2 to the preceding Article of the Supplementary Provisions, any proceedings and other acts carried out pursuant to the provisions of the respective Ministerial Orders prior to amendment by this Ministerial Order are deemed to have been carried out pursuant to the relevant provisions of the respective Ministerial Orders amended by this Ministerial Order.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 87 of September 30, 1999]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of October 1, 1999.

(Transitional Measures)

Article 2The provisions of Article 8, paragraph (1), items (ii) to (iv) of the amended Regulation on Safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas do not apply to and prior laws continue to govern manufacturing facilities permitted pursuant to Article 5, paragraph (1) of the High Pressure Gas Safety Act (Act No. 204 of 1951) at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (excluding a dispenser provided in Article 8, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the amended Regulation on Safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas).

Article 3For specific equipment already launched for manufacturing at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, prior laws continue to govern.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 104 of November 29, 1999]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 23 of March 1, 2000]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 130 of June 30, 2000]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of July 1, 2000.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 300 of October 31, 2000]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of January 6, 2001.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 126 of March 30, 2001]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 84 of June 10, 2002]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

(Transitional Measures)

Article 2Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 8, paragraph (1) or Article 37, paragraph (1) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers amended by this Ministerial Order (hereinafter referred to as the "New Regulation"), a mark already stamped on an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving under Article 8, paragraph (1) or Article 37, paragraph (1) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers prior to amendment by this Ministerial Order at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order is deemed as a stamped mark under Article 45, paragraph (1) or Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Act for the period until September 30, 2002 (in the case of a container for which one year and one month has not passed from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes the inspection or month in which the container passes the reinspection, the day on which one year and one month pass), if a label clearly indicating the fact of the relevant stamping (Code: SCUBA) appears on the exterior surface of the container.

Article 3Prior laws continue to govern an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving which passed the container inspection under Article 44, paragraph (1) of the Act on or before March 31, 1989.In this case, the term "four years and one month" in Article 26, paragraph (1) and Article 27, paragraph (1), item (i) of the New Regulation is deemed to be replaced with "two years and one month".

Article 4A person that has obtained a registration of a container reinspection station under Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, which has already conducted a reinspection an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving may continue to conduct the reinspection of that container for the period before five years have not passed from the date of issuance of the registration certificate for container reinspection station or December 9, 2002, whichever is earlier.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 34 of March 24, 2004]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of March 31, 2004.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 14 of March 4, 2005]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date on which the Real Property Registration Act comes into effect (March 7, 2005).

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 21 of March 11, 2005]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of April 1, 2005.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 39 of March 30, 2005 extract][Extract]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of March 31, 2005.

(Transitional Measures)

Article 4Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 8, paragraph (1) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers amended by this Ministerial Order, stamping, etc. already carried out on an ultra-low-temperature container pursuant to Article 8, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers prior to amendment by this Ministerial Order at the time of the enforcement of Ministerial Order is deemed as stamping, etc. under Article 45, paragraph (1) of the Act for the period until the day of the container reinspection which the relevant container is to undergo for the first time after the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 82 of December 1, 2008]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date on which the Act on General Incorporated Associations and General Incorporated Foundations comes into effect (December 1, 2008).

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 12 of March 19, 2010]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of March 31, 2010.

(Transitional Measures)

Article 2Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 8, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers amended by this Ministerial Order, stamping, etc. already carried out on a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system pursuant to Article 8, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers prior to amendment at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order is deemed as stamping, etc. pursuant to Article 45, paragraphs (1) or (2) of the Act.

Article 3For storage of books required to be stored pursuant to Article 60, paragraph (1) of the Act at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order, the revised provisions of Article 71, paragraph (2) of the amended Regulation on Safety of Containers apply.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 49 of August 16, 2010]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of September 16, 2010.

(Transitional Measures)

Article 2Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 8, paragraph (1) or Article 37, paragraph (1) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers, a mark already stamped on an aluminum alloy seamless container for scuba diving to be filled with the gas specified in Article 39, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas amended by this Ministerial Order pursuant to Article 8, paragraph (1) or Article 37, paragraph (1) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order is deemed as a stamped mark under Article 45, paragraph (1) or Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Act for the period until December 31, 2010 (in the case of a container for which one year and one month have not passed from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes the inspection or month in which the container passes the reinspection by the relevant day, the day on which one year and one month pass), if a label clearly indicates that fact (Code: SCUBA) on the exterior surface of the container.

Article 3Prior laws continue to govern an application of designation pursuant to Article 14, Article 23-2, Article 25, Article 36, Article 47, Article 57 and Article 66-3 of the Ministerial Order on Designated Test Institute, etc. under the High Pressure Gas Safety Act prior to amendment by this Ministerial Order, which was filed before the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 18 of March 28, 2012]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 23 of May 13, 2013]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 18 of March 31, 2014]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 30 of May 30, 2014]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 8 of February 24, 2015]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 82 of June 30, 2016]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of June 30, 2016.

(Partial Amendment to the Regulation on Safety of Containers)

Article 2A part of the Regulation on Safety of Containers (Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 50 of 1966) is amended as follows.

In Article 1, the phrase "hereinafter referred to as the 'Order'" is deleted, and the phrase "(excluding containers to which the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Reciprocal Recognition (Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 82 of 2016) applies" is added.

In Article 2, the term "item (xxviii)" is replaced with "item (xxviii)-2."

In Article 11, the term "paragraph (4)" is replaced with "paragraph (5)."

In Article 38 paragraph (2), after the phrase "Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph), the phrase "for accessories which conform to the provisions of Article 10 of the Civil Aeronautics Act, the standard specified in Article 14-2, paragraph (10) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Civil Aeronautics Act" is added; and the phrase "the standard so approved may be replaced with a stamped mark or marking plate" is replaced with "the standard so approved may be replaced with the stamped mark or marking plate under Article 49-4, paragraph (3) of the Act."

In Article 70, after the term "Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry," the phrase (in case of accessories fitted on a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fitted on a railroad vehicle), to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the container)."

(Partial Amendment to the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas)

Article 3A part of the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas (Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 53 of 1966) is amended as follows.

In Article 6, paragraph (2), item (ii), sub-item (j), the phrase "a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system or a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles specified in item (xvii)-2 of the same Article" is replaced with the phrase "a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system, compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles specified in item (xvii)-2 of the same Article or a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system under the International Reciprocal Recognition Agreement specified in Article 2, item (iii) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Reciprocal Recognition (Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 82 of 2016)"; the phrase "in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system specified in item (xiii)-3 of the same Article (hereinafter referred to as a "GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system"), the year and month of container inspection)" is deleted; the term "item (xiii) of the same Article is replaced with "Article 2, item (xii) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers"; and after the phrase "for which the year, month and date of fillable period has passed," the phrase "for which the year and month of fillable period under Article 8, paragraph (1), item (x) of the same Order has passed, in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system specified in Article 2, item (xiii)-3 of the same Order (hereinafter referred to as a "GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system"), or for which the month when 15 years pass from the month immediately preceding the month of manufacturing of the container (meaning the month of passing a hydrostatic test performed in the course of manufacturing process thereof) has passed, in the case of a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system under the International Reciprocal Recognition Agreement specified in Article 2, item (iii) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Reciprocal Recognition (hereinafter referred to as a "compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system under the International Reciprocal Recognition Agreement")" is added.

In Article 18, item (ii), sub-item (f), the phrase "in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, the year and month of container inspection)" is deleted; and after the phrase "for which the year, month and date of fillable period has passed," the phrase "for which the year and month of fillable period under the same item has passed, in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, or for which the month when 15 years pass from the month immediately preceding the month of manufacturing of the container (meaning the month of passing a hydrostatic test performed in the course of manufacturing process thereof) has passed, in the case of a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system under the International Reciprocal Recognition Agreement" is added.

In Article 46, paragraph (2), item (iv) is renumbered as item (v), and the following item is added after item (iii):

(iv)in the case of importing high pressure gas to be filled in a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system under the International Reciprocal Recognition Agreement;

In Article 49, paragraph (1), item (iii) the phrase "(in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, the year and month of container inspection)" is deleted; and after the phrase "for which the year, month and date of fillable period has passed," the phrase "for which the year and month of fillable period under the same item has passed, in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, or for which the month when 15 years pass from the month immediately preceding the moth of manufacturing of the container (meaning the month of passing a hydrostatic test performed in the course of manufacturing process thereof) has passed, in the case of a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system under the International Reciprocal Recognition Agreement" is added.

In Article 50, item (iii), the phrase "in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, the year and month of container inspection)" is deleted; and after the phrase "for which the year, month and date of fillable period has passed," the phrase "for which the year and month of fillable period under the same item has passed, in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system, or for which the month when 15 years pass from the month immediately preceding the month of manufacturing of the container (meaning the month of passing a hydrostatic test performed in the course of manufacturing process thereof) has passed, in the case of a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system under the International Reciprocal Recognition Agreement" is added.

(Partial Amendment to the Regulation on Safety of Industrial Complexes)

Article 4A part of the Regulation on Safety of Industrial Complexes (Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 88 of 1986) is amended as follows.

In Article 5, paragraph (2), item (ii), sub-item (k), the phrase "a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system or a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles specified in item (xvii)-2 of the same Article" is replaced with the phrase "a liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system, a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles specified in item (xvii)-2 of the same Article or a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system under the International Reciprocal Recognition Agreement specified in Article 2, item (iii) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Reciprocal Recognition (Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 82 of 2016)"; the phrase "(in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system specified in item (xiii)-3 of the same Article, the year and month of container inspection)" is deleted; the term "item (xii) of the same Article" is replaced with "Article 2, item (xii) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers"; and after the phrase "for which the year, month and date of fillable period has passed," the phrase "for which the year and month of fillable period under Article 8, paragraph (1), item (x) of the same Order has passed, in the case of a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system specified in Article 2, item (xiii)-3 of the same Order, or for which the month when 15 years pass from the month immediately preceding the month of manufacturing of the container (meaning the month of passing a hydrostatic test performed in the course of manufacturing process thereof) has passed, in the case of a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system under the International Reciprocal Recognition Agreement specified in Article 2, item (iii) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Reciprocal Recognition)" is added.

(Partial Amendment to the Regulation on Inspection of Specific Equipment)

Article 5A part of the Regulation on Inspection of Specific Equipment (Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 4 of 1976) is amended as follows.

In Article 3, item (ix) is renumbered as item (x), the following item is added after item (i), and items (ii) through (viii) are renumbered accordingly.

(ii)a container to which the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Reciprocal Recognition (Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 82 of 2016) applies;

Article 6A part of the Ministerial Order on Designated Testing Institutes under High Pressure Gas Safety Act (Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 23 of 1997) is amended as follows:

The items of Article 35, paragraph (1) are amended as follows:

(i)a general seamless container;

(ii)a seamless compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system;

(iii)a welded container with an internal volume less than 4,000 liters;

(iv)an ultra-low temperature container with an internal volume less than 4,000 liters;

(v)a welded container or ultra-low temperature container with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters;

(vi)a brazed container;

(vii)a general FRP composite container;

(viii)a general FRP composite container for liquefied petroleum gas;

(ix)a composite compressed natural gas container for automobile fuel system;

(x)a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system;

(xi)a GTR-compliant compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system;

(xii)a compressed hydrogen container for automobile fuel system under the International Reciprocal Recognition Agreement;

(xiii)a compressed hydrogen container for transportation automobiles;

(xiv)a non-refillable container; and

(xv)accessories.

In Article 66-11, paragraph (1), item (v), after the phrase "a document under Article 46, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers," the phrase "a document under Article 36, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Reciprocal Recognition (Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 82 of 2016)" is added.

In Article 67, paragraph (8), item (v), after the phrase "a document under Article 46, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers," the phrase "a document under Article 36, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Reciprocal Recognition" is added.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 105 of November 1, 2016]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

(Transitional Measures)

Article 2(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 8, Article 25 and Article 43, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of Refrigeration after the revision by this Ministerial Order (hereinafter referred to as the "Revised Refrigeration Regulation"), prior laws continue to govern a person that has obtained permission under Article 5, paragraph (1) or Article 14, paragraph (1) of the High Pressure Gas Safety Act (Act No. 204 of 1951; hereinafter referred to as the "Act") or a person that has filed an application for the permission (limited to the case of installing equipment for sites for manufacturing high pressure gases by compressing or liquefying specific inactive gases for refrigeration (hereinafter referred to as a "manufacturing site")) at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 12, paragraphs (1) and (2) and Article 13 of the Revised Refrigeration Regulation, prior laws continue to govern a person that has submitted a notification under Article 5, paragraph (2) or Article 14, paragraph (4) of the Act (limited to the case of installing equipment for a manufacturing site of high pressure gases by compressing or liquefying specific inactive gases for refrigeration) at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 15 of the Revised Refrigeration Regulation, prior laws continue to govern a person manufacturing high pressure gases pursuant to Article 13 of the Act (limited to the case of installing equipment for a manufacturing site of high pressure gases by compressing or liquefying specific inactive gases for refrigeration) at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

Article 3(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 6, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 8, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 35, paragraph (1) and Article 82, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas after the revision by this Ministerial Order (hereinafter referred to as the "Revised Regulation"), a person that has obtained permission under Article 5, paragraph (1) or Article 14, paragraph (1) of the Act or a person that has filed an application for the permission at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to the case of installing equipment for a manufacturing site of gases other than toxic gases provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas before the revision by this Ministerial Order that are toxic gases provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Revised Regulation or toxic gases provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas before the revision by this Ministerial Order that are gases other than the toxic gases provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Revised Regulation (hereinafter referred to as "specified toxic gases provided in revised regulation")) may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 11 and Article 12, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Revised Regulation, a person that has submitted a notification under Article 5, paragraph (2) or Article 14, paragraph (4) of the Act at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to the case of installing equipment for a manufacturing site of specified toxic gases provided in Revised Regulation) may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 18 of the Revised Regulation, a person that stores specified toxic gases provided in Revised Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (excluding the case where a person that obtained permission under Article 5, paragraph (1) of the Act stores specified toxic gases provided in Revised Regulation in accordance with the permission) may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(4)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 22, Article 23, paragraph (1) and Article 35, paragraph (2) of the Revised Regulation, prior laws may be chosen to continue to govern storage sites for which permission under Article 16, paragraph (1) or Article 19, paragraph (1) of the Act is obtained or applied at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to sites for storing specified toxic gases provided in Revised Regulation) for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(5)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 26 of the Revised Regulation, prior laws may be chosen to continue to govern storage sites for which notification under Article 17-2, paragraph (1) or Article 19, paragraph (4) of the Act is submitted at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to sites for storing specified toxic gases provided in Revised Regulation) for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(6)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 49, paragraph (1) and Article 50 of the Revised Regulation, a person that transports specified toxic gases provided in Revised Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(7)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 60 of the Revised Regulation, a person that consumes specified toxic gases provided in Revised Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(8)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 62 of the Revised Regulation, a person that disposes specified toxic gases provided in Revised Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order may to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

Article 4Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 5, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 10, Article 11, Article 19 and Article 37, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of Industrial Complexes after the revision by this Ministerial Order (hereinafter referred to as the "Revised Regulation on Industrial Complexes"), a person that has obtained permission under Article 5, paragraph (1) or Article 14, paragraph (1) of the Act or a person that has filed an application for the permission at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to the case of installing equipment for manufacturing site of gases other than toxic gases provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Regulation on Safety of Industrial Complexes before the revision by this Ministerial Order that are toxic gases provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Revised Regulation on Industrial Complexes or toxic gases provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas before the revision by this Ministerial Order that are gases other than the toxic gases provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Revised Regulation on Industrial Complexes) may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

Article 5(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (1), Article 8, paragraph (1), Article 35, paragraph (1) and Article 82, paragraph (2) of the Revised Regulation, a person that has obtained permission under Article 5, paragraph (1) or Article 14, paragraph (1) of the Act or a person that has filed an application for the permission at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to the case of installing equipment for a manufacturing site of specific inactive gases provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (iv)-2 of the Revised Regulation; hereinafter simply referred to as "specific inactive gases provided in Revised Regulation") may choose to be governed by prior laws.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (2) and Article 8, paragraph (2) of the Revised Regulation, a person that has obtained permission under Article 5, paragraph (1) or Article 14, paragraph (1) of the Act or a person that has filed an application for the permission at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to the case of installing equipment for a Manufacturing Site of Specific Inactive Gases Provided in Revised Regulation) may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 11, paragraph (1) (limited to a notification under Article 12, paragraph (1) of the Act) and Article 12, paragraph (1) of the Revised Regulation, a person that has submitted a notification under Article 5, paragraph (2) or Article 14, paragraph (4) of the Act at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to the case of installing equipment for a Manufacturing Site of Specific Inactive Gases Provided in Revised Regulation) may choose to be governed by prior laws.

(4)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 11 (limited to a notification under Article 12, paragraph (2) of the Act) and Article 12, paragraph (2) of the Revised Regulation, a person that has submitted a notification under Article 5, paragraph (2) or Article 14, paragraph (4) of the Act at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to the case of installing equipment for a manufacturing site of specific inactive gases provided in revised regulation) may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(5)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 18 of the Revised Regulation, a person that stores specified inactive gases provided in Revised Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (excluding the case where a person that obtained permission under Article 5, paragraph (1) of the Act stores specified inactive gases provided in Revised Regulation in accordance with the permission) may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(6)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 22, Article 23, paragraph (1) and Article 35, paragraph (2) of the Revised Regulation, prior laws may be chosen to continue to govern storage sites for which permission under Article 16, paragraph (1) or Article 19, paragraph (1) of the Act is obtained or applied at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to sites for storing specified inactive gases provided in Revised Regulation).

(7)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 26 of the Revised Regulation, prior laws may be chosen to continue to govern storage sites for which notification under Article 17-2, paragraph (1) or Article 19, paragraph (4) of the Act is submitted at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to sites for storing specified inactive provided in Revised Regulation).

(8)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 49, paragraph (1) and Article 50 of the Revised Regulation, a person that transports specified inactive gases provided in Revised Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(9)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 62 of the Revised Regulation, a person that disposes specified inactive gases provided in Revised Regulation at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

Article 6(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 5, paragraph (1), Article 10, Article 19 and Article 37, paragraph (2) of the Revised Regulation on Industrial Complexes, a person that has obtained permission under Article 5, paragraph (1) or Article 14, paragraph (1) of the Act or a person that has filed an application for the permission at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to the case of installing equipment for a Manufacturing Site of specific inactive gases provided in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (iii)-2 of the Revised Regulation on Industrial Complex; hereinafter simply referred to as "Specific Inactive Gases Provided in Revised Regulation on Industrial Complex") may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 5, paragraph (2) and Article 11 of the Revised Regulation on Industrial Complex, a person that has obtained permission under Article 5, paragraph (1) or Article 14, paragraph (1) of the Act or a person that has filed an application for the permission at the time of the enforcement of this Ministerial Order (limited to the case of installing equipment for a Manufacturing Site of Specific Inactive Gases Provided in Revised Regulation on Industrial Complex) may choose to be governed by prior laws for one year from the enforcement of this Ministerial Order.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 14 of March 22, 2017]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of April 1, 2017.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 43 of May 8, 2017]

This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of the date of its promulgation.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 83 of November 15, 2017]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of April 1, 2018.

(Transitional Measures)

Article 2(1)A notification submitted to the prefectural governor pursuant to Article 77, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas prior to amendment by this Ministerial Order, which was submitted before the enforcement of this Ministerial Order and which relates to administrative businesses to be submitted to the head of the designated city provided in Article 252-19, paragraph (1) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947) (hereinafter referred as a "designated city" in this Article), pursuant to Article 77, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas as amended by this Ministerial Order after the day of enforcement of this Ministerial Order (hereinafter referred to as the "date of enforcement" in this Article) is deemed as a notification submitted to the head of the designated city after the date of enforcement.

(2)A notification submitted to the prefectural governor pursuant to Article 79, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas prior to amendment by this Ministerial Order, which was submitted before the enforcement of this Ministerial Order and which relates to administrative businesses to be submitted to the head of the designated city, pursuant to Article 79, paragraph (2) of the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas as amended by this Ministerial Order after the date of enforcement is deemed as a notification submitted to the head of the designated city after the date of enforcement.

Supplementary Provisions[Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 6 of March 30, 2018]

(Effective Date)

Article 1This Ministerial Order comes into effect as of April 30, 2018; provided, however, that the provisions of Article 1 amending Articles 4, Article 14, Article 23, Article 30, paragraph (1), Article 32 and Article 36 of the Regulation on Safety of Containers; the provisions of Articles 2, Article 3 and Article 4 amending Article 2, paragraph (1), item (v), (d), Article 3, paragraph (1), Article 31, paragraph (1) and Article 32, paragraphs (1) and (3) of the Regulation on Safety of General High Pressure Gas; the provisions of Article 5 amending Article 2, paragraph (1), item (v), (d) of the Regulation on Safety of Industrial Complexes; and the provisions of Article 6 amending Articles 1, Article 14 and Article 23 of the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Reciprocal Recognition come into effect as of April 1, 2018.

(Transitional Measures Related to Penal Provisions)

Article 2Prior laws continue to govern the applicability of penal provisions to conduct that a person engages in before this Ministerial Order comes into effect.

Appended Table 1 (Re: Art. 26, paragraph (1))

(i)nitrous oxide, argon, ammonia, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, ethylene, hydrogen chloride, chlorine, xenon, krypton, nitrogen trifluoride, boron trifluoride, disilane, difluoromethane, hydrogen bromide, nitrogen, trifluoromethane, carbon dioxide, neon, octafluorocyclobutane, fluoromethane, helium, phosphine, methane, monosilane, carbon tetrafluoride, carbonyl sulfide and sulfur hexafluoride

(ii)argon, xenon, krypton, nitrogen, neon or helium, or mixed gas composed of two or more of these gases, and mixed gas composed of any of the gases set forth in the preceding item or boron tribromide; and

(iii)argon, xenon, krypton, nitrogen, neon or helium, or mixed gas composed of two or more of these gases, and mixed gas of fluorine (the volume of fluorine in the mixed gas must not exceed 20% of the total volume.)

Appended Table No. 2 (Re: Article 14)

Categories of containers, etc. manufactured		Business category regarding containers, etc.
Type of containers, etc.	Method of manufacturing
Seamless steel container	Erhardt method	Class I
	Mannesmann method	Class II
	Cupping method	Class III
Seamless aluminum alloy container	Erhardt method	Class IV
	Mannesmann method	Class V
	Cupping method	Class VI
Welded container with an internal volume less than 4,000 liters (excluding high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles)		Class VII
Ultra low-temperature container with an internal volume less than 4,000 liters (excluding high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles) and liquefied natural gas container for automobile fuel system		Class VIII
Welded container and ultra low-temperature container with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters, and high-pressure gas container for transportation automobiles		Class IX
Brazed container		Class X
Fiber-reinforced plastic composite container (steel liner)		Class XI
Fiber-reinforced plastic composite container (aluminum alloy liner)		Class XII
Fiber-reinforced plastic composite container (plastic liner)		Class XIII
Non-refillable container		Class XIV
Containers other than those categorized in Class I through Class XIV		Class XV
Accessories		Class XVI