Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� December, 2003

Prime Minister Koizumi Receives the Third Report from the Council for Regulatory Reform Monday, December 22, 2003 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received the "Third Report on the Promotion of Regulatory Reform" from Mr. Yoshihiko Miyauchi, the Chair of the Council for Regulatory Reform, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Before the Council dissolving in March 2004, unprecedented active deliberations took place at the Council. The report decided on this occasion is to be the final report, compiling the results of the deliberations and issues to be tackled in the future. The report presents the perspective that promotion of regulatory reform is important for the realization of a vibrant economic society through expansion of employment and market and to seek for the realization of prosperous lives of the people in which they can enjoy various high-quality services. Furthermore, the reports points out the importance of appropriate implementation of the action plan, as cross-sectional efforts for the realization of 17 prioritized items such as sales of drugs at regular retail outlets and unification of kindergartens and nursery schools. It includes approximately 340 specific measures in all areas and will be reflected in the "Three-Year Program of Regulatory Reform" which is scheduled to be revised in March 2004.