Cabinet Decision on the Cabinet Order for the Partial Revision of the Order for Enforcement of the Act on Emergency Measures for Stabilizing Living Conditions of the Public

1. Purpose of the Cabinet Order

Article 26 (1) of the Act stipulates the provisions that in cases such as when a serious hindrance is likely to be caused to the stability of the living conditions of the public or the smooth operation of the national economy due to a substantial shortage of the supply of Essential Goods, etc., the Essential Goods, etc. may be designated by Cabinet Order and matters necessary for prohibition of transfer of the Essential Goods, etc., may be specified by Cabinet Order.

This Cabinet Order is to take necessary measures, under the provisions of the Act, because of the need to prohibit the transfer of face masks by persons who have purchased from sellers that sell such masks to unspecified persons.

2. Summary of the Cabinet Order

Under the provisions of Articles 26 (1) and 37 of the Act, the Cabinet Order is to stipulate the following provisions.

1. The term “Essential Goods may be designated by Cabinet Order” stipulated in Article 26 (1) of the Act should be defined as “face masks.”
2. A person who has purchased face masks from a seller that sells face masks to unspecified persons must not transfer those face masks, only in cases where the person intends to transfer the face masks by offering or inducing unspecified or many people to conclude a contract to trade the face masks at a price higher than the purchase price of the face masks.
3. Penalties should be stipulated concerning cases where such persons violate the provisions.

3. Future schedule

Promulgation: March 11 (Wed.), 2020
Enforcement: March 15 (Sun.), 2020

Related Documents

• Outline of the prohibition measures(PDF:291KB)PDF
• For further details, see the Japanese language press release.

Division in Charge

Consumer Affairs Policy Planning Office, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group