Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has published the names of 36 businesses importing or selling products with lithium-ion battery safety concerns on its website. This step follows a series of combustion accidents involving phone chargers and similar devices, aiming to raise awareness of unscrupulous operators and curb dangerous goods distribution. It aligns with newly enforced laws requiring overseas sellers to appoint safety management officials in Japan.
Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry announced on December 25, 2025, the publication of 36 company names on its website due to safety issues with lithium-ion batteries used in phone rechargers and other devices. The move addresses a string of combustion incidents and targets mostly small businesses that import or sell potentially unsafe products. The goal is to alert the public to unreliable operators and halt the spread of hazardous goods.
This disclosure coincides with the enforcement of revised laws on electrical appliance safety. Under the updated Consumer Product Safety Law and three related statutes, overseas businesses selling directly to Japanese consumers online must now designate safety management officials in Japan. Items like mobile batteries require a PS label, certifying compliance with national standards.
The ministry will also list these officials' names online and can urge major e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon and Rakuten Ichiba, to delist products if companies cannot handle incidents locally. The roster updates roughly every three months, removing reachable businesses. As of December 19, the ministry had been unable to contact these 36 firms.
Overall, the initiative bolsters consumer safeguards against risky imports from abroad.
