Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet  
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Fifty-fourth General Meeting of
the Quality-of-Life Council


Monday, November 5, 2007



Photograph of the 54th general meeting of the Quality-of-Life Council

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda attended the 54th general meeting of the Quality-of-Life Council held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, together with Mr. Fumio Kishida, the Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs, Science and Technology Policy, Quality-of-Life Policy, and Regulatory Reform.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Fukuda requested that the Council deliberate broadly on the comprehensive review of the administration, with the conclusion to be made by next spring, to see whether laws, systems and business practices are functioning satisfactorily in the five key areas that form the basis of people's lives - "eat," "work," "create," "protect" and "live" - from the standpoint of the consumer and the people, to ensure that people feel safe and reassured as they live their daily lives. The instruction was made in response to the series of incidents that have taken place, which created great concern among the people for their lives, including falsification of earthquake-resistance data and false labeling of food products.

Furthermore, in his address, the Prime Minister referred to his recent visit to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (NCAC), saying, "I observed product testing and inspected the facility. It was a fresh reminder that dangers can exist in apparently ordinary circumstances," and continued, "I strongly expect that the Council will hold enthusiastic discussions truly from the viewpoint of the consumer and the people, so that people can go about their daily lives with a sense of reassurance."