The Fair Trade Commission said Wednesday it is planning legal revisions that would help combat false labeling of food and other acts of misrepresentation in light of the recent labeling scandals that have undermined consumer confidence.
The revisions would give the heads of prefectural governments access to tougher penalties and stronger enforcement powers and would allow the imposition of stricter bans on groundless representations, it said.
The fair trade watchdog hopes to submit a bill on the revisions during the Diet session slated to convene in January, an FTC official said.
The maximum penalty of 3 million yen would be increased, taking into account the current penalties of up to 300 million yen for companies, and 3 million yen and three-year prison terms for individuals, under a similar law used to counter unfair competition, the official said.