Japan should clarify the criteria it uses to recognize refugees and set up safeguards to protect vulnerable applicants who fall short of the definition, an advisory panel told the Justice Ministry on Friday.

The panel, made up of outside experts, also called for tougher measures to deter fraudulent applications.

The proposals will serve as a basis for an immigration policy review the ministry aims to complete by the end of this fiscal year. It also represents an end to the panel's year-long deliberations on the refugee system, which is widely criticized for its slow screening and high rate of rejection.