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Background
Paper – Japan Automobile Imports Association, Internationalization of
Standards and Certification Efforts
are being made at the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle
Regulations of the United Nation's Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE/WP29)
for the international harmonization of automobile safety &
environment standards. The
UN/ECE 1958 Agreement is valid in Europe, where the international
distribution of automobiles and international transport are well
established. In 1998, Japan became the first non-European country to
accede to the UN/ECE 1958 Agreement, and facilitates the adoption of ECE
standards as Japanese ones. Currently, the UN/ECE 1958 Agreement
comprises 33 countries and one region. In
addition," Global Vehicle Technical Agreement"(Global
Agreement) for automobile standardization was agreed among Japan, US and
Europe in 1998, and Japan acceded to" Global Agreement" in
August 1999. The Agreement is expected to take effect in 2000. In
consideration of the development of internationalization in the
automobile industry toward the 21st century, the Japanese government is
appealing to the international community to realize a standards
harmonization system comprising even more countries. JASIC The
Japan Automobile Standards Internationalization Center (JASIC) was
founded in 1987 by the government and related organizations in the
private sector, for the purpose of assisting the activities related to
international harmonization of standards and mutual recognition of
vehicle certification which the Japanese government promotes. In 1988,
JASIC established an Office in Geneva and Washington Office in 1998. With
the help of its foreign offices, JASIC carries out the activities to
present the Japanese views at the concerning international assembly.
Also, JASIC has been examining and cooperating, with the relating
experts, regarding the adoption of ECE standards. In
future from a viewpoint of establishing global standards, JASIC will
study and propose the harmonization of regulations in addition to the
proposals for ECE standards. Furthermore,
JASIC participates in the conferences in Asia on the theme of
international harmonization, with a view to strengthening the
cooperation with various governments. JASIC
issues translations of the national and international regulations in
order to facilitate the above-mentioned activities smoothly. |