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Council for Promoting Consumer Policy Tuesday, February 12, 2008 JAPANESE

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held the first meeting of the Council for Promoting Consumer Policy at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The Council was established with the purpose of considering the modality of a new organization with strong authority that promotes, in a uniform and systematic manner, consumer policy, which is now conducted separately by each ministry and agency concerned, so as to serve as the helmsman of the government of which the consumer is protagonist. The meeting of the Council, which is comprised of experts, was attended by the Prime Minister, as well as Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, and Mr. Fumio Kishida, the Minister of Consumer Affairs, among other officials, from the government side. At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Fukuda said in his address, "I expect the discussion to be advanced from the viewpoint of streamlining government for the convenience of the people, which has been my constant wish, and to reach some conclusion by April or May after going through intensive deliberations. I would like to ask the Council members, who have expertise in their respective areas, to express frank opinions and contribute to reaching a great conclusion."