Addition of Pharmaceutical and Special Medical Device Manufacturing businesses, to Core Designated Business Sectors Subject to Inward Direct Investment Screening

June 15, 2020

On June 15, 2020, the government of Japan publicized the public notices of revision in an official gazette concerning the addition of manufacturing business involving pharmaceuticals for specific infectious diseases manufacturers as well as specially-controlled medical devices manufacturers to the core designated business sectors subject to inward direct investment screening.

Outline of the revision

In light of recent expansion of the novel coronavirus disease, the government considers it important to maintain the base of domestic medical manufacturing industries which are significant to public health and to appropriately prevent situations that may cause serious impacts on national security and health. From these viewpoints, the government decided to take necessary measures, and include the addition of:

  • Manufacturing businesses involving pharmaceuticals for specific infectious disease (including the intermediate of such pharmaceuticals); and
  • Manufacturing businesses involving specifically-controlled medical devices (including accessories and parts thereof);
    to the core designated businesses sectors, which are subject to prior-notification requirement under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (Act No. 228 of 1949) and, on June 15, 2020, the government publicized the related public notices of the revision* in the official gazette.

The Public Notice of the Designated Business Sectors

The Public Notice of the Partial Revision of the Provisions under which the Minister of Finance and the Competent Minister for the Business Determine the Types of Businesses Pursuant to Article 3 (3) of the Order for Inward Direct Investment, etc. (Public Notice No. 10 of the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the Ministry of the Environment of June 2020); and

The Public Notice of the Core Designated Business Sectors

The Public Notice of the Partial Revision of the Provisions under which the Minister of Finance and the Competent Minister for the Business Determine the Types of Businesses Pursuant to Article 3-2 (3) of the Order for Inward Direct Investment, etc. (Public Notice No. 9 of the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Minister of Finance, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the Ministry of the Environment of June 2020).

Future schedule

The provisions in the public notices of the revised core/designated business sectors hereby publicized will be applied to inward direct investment, etc. undertaken on or after July 15, 2020, the date after the grace period of 30 days.