Japan METI Sanctions News

Japan Establishes Task Force to Secure Medical Supplies Due to Middle East Situation

METI and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare have established a joint Task Force to secure supplies of medical products including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and medical supplies that may be affected by the situation in the Middle East. The Task Force held its first meeting at 11:30 a.m. on March 31, 2026, and will operate behind closed doors to encourage frank discussion. The Task Force aims to implement comprehensive approaches including analysis of challenges in ensuring stable supplies and discussion of possible responses to the situation.

Japan-Led ISO Motorway ADS Standards Published: ISO 23792-1 and ISO 23792-2

Japan, serving as convenor of ISO/TC204/WG14, has led the development of two new international standards for Motorway Chauffeur Systems: ISO 23792-1:2026 (published March 27, 2026) covering framework and general requirements, and ISO 23792-2:2026 (published March 19, 2026) covering discretionary lane change requirements and test procedures. The standards establish baseline functionality requirements and test procedures for Level 3 Automated Driving Systems on motorways to support global ADS market expansion while reducing traffic accidents caused by human error.