Thursday, January 29, 2009

Council for Promoting Consumer Policy

Prime Minister Taro Aso held the 11th meeting of the Council for Promoting Consumer Policy at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the first meeting of the Council under the Aso Cabinet, steps to establish an Agency for Consumer Affairs were confirmed, namely, an outline of related budgets, an organizational chart, and measures taken in advance by the Cabinet Office. Also, relations and key points of the three bills to establish an Agency for Consumer Affairs were explained, and the Council confirmed that it would work for an early enactment of the bills.

In his opening address, Prime Minister Aso said, "The Agency for Consumer Affairs will be the first government agency to be created from the perspective of consumers. The Cabinet has been fleshing out related bills, budgets, organization, and other foundations. As we formally decided on the establishment of a Special Committee on Consumer Affair at the start of the regular session of the Diet convened on January 5, we must work hard to ensure the bills are deliberated and enacted within this fiscal year. I would like to ask the members of the Council for continued all-out cooperation."