I hereby promulgate the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Law.
Signed:HIROHITO, Seal of the Emperor
This thirty-first day of the fifth month of the twenty-fifth year of Showa (May 31, 1950)
Prime Minister YOSHIDA Shigeru
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Law
(Purpose of Law)
Article 1. The purpose of this Law is to stipulated provisions conducive to the sound and democratic development of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is to be formed by merchants, industrialists and those who intend to contribute to the betterment of commerce and industry, for the purpose of the improvement and development of commerce and industry, and thereby contributing to the promotion of the general welfare of the society.
(Standard and Principle)
Article 2. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry shall satisfy the following conditions:
(1) Making its object to promote the improvement and development of commerce and industry for the district concerned, in addition to promoting the welfare and prosperity of the district;
(2) Entrance into or withdrawal from the chamber shall be voluntary;
(3) Each member shall have right to one vote;
(4) Words "Chamber of Commerce and Industry" shall be included in its title.
2 The Chamber of Commerce and Industry shall not carry on any business for the benefit of any specified member.
3 The Chamber of Commerce and Industry shall not be utilized for any specified political party.
(Character)
Article 3. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry shall be a juridical person established in accordance with the provisions of Article 34 (Establishment of a juridical person for public benefit) of the Civil Code (Law No.89 of 1896).
(District)
Article 4. The district of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry shall be a city (in case of a district which has many wards (Ku) of the To, the area including all of these wards. The same shall apply hereinafter). However, in case it is necessary according to the condition of the commerce and industry, the district may be an area of a prefecture, town, or that of a city and city, town or village, or a town and town or village.
2 The Chamber of Commerce and Industry covering the whole or a part of district provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be one in number.
(Chamber of Commerce and Industry Covering One Prefecture or the Whole Country as its District)
Article 5. A Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a district covering the area as mentioned in paragraph 1 of the preceding Article may established a Chamber of Commerce and Industry which covers one prefecture or the whole country as its district, notwithstanding the provisions of the said Article.
2 Any person other than a Chamber of Commerce and Industry may, only in case it has provided for specially in its regulations, have a qualification to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry established in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(Business)
Article 6. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for attaining its objects, may carry on the following business in compliance with the provisions of the Trade Association Law (Law No.191 of 1948):
(1) To make public or submit to the administrative government office concerned the opinions of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
(2) The conduct necessary investigation and research, to prepare statistics, gather data or publish the above matters and to supply information or make mediation;
(3) To issue the certificate of origin for export goods, in case it is required by the customs in foreign countries;
(4) To make necessary certifications or appraisals on request;
(5) To maintain or operate the non-business property or equipment;
(6) To conduct lectures and short courses;
(7) To hold sample markets or exhibitions, and sales of samples at these markets or exhibitions on request;
(8) To mediate for the settlement of, or settle, disputes on business between the members, non-members and foreign businessmen;
(9) To introduce businessmen or merchandies on request;
(10) To meet consultations concerning commerce and industry;
(11) To conduct pertinent affairs other than mentioned above, which are necessary for the attainment of then object of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
(Title)
Article 7. No person other than the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (persons who do not fall under any provision of Article 2 paragraph 1 items (1) to (3) inclusive and Article 3 as well as Article 4 or Article 5 paragraph 1;hereinafter to be referred as same) shall use the words "Chamber of Commerce and Industry" in its title.
2 Any person who violates the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand yen.
(Power of Fair Trade Commission)
Article 8. The provisions of this Law shall not be construted to modify the provisions of the Law concerning Prohibition of Private Monopoly and Preservation of Fair Trade (Law No.54 of 1947) and the Trade Association Law, and the power of the Fair Trade Commission based on the provisions of these laws.
Supplementary Provisions:
(Date of Enforcement)
1. This Law shall come into force as from the day of its promulgation.
(Existing Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Non-Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
2. The Chambers of Commerce and Industry in existence on the date of the enforcement of this Law which do not comply with the provision of Article 4 paragraph 2, shall take necessary actions to comply with the provision of the abovementioned paragraph within 6 months from the day of the enforcement of this Law.
3. Any person other than a Chamber of Commerce and Industry who is using the title of "Chamber of Commerce and Industry" at the time of the enforcement of this Law shall change its title or undergo the revision of its regulations or other necessary deeds to become a Chamber of Commerce and Industry within six months from the day of the enforcement of this Law.
4. The provision of Article 7 paragraph 2 shall not, only for the term as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, apply to the person provided for in the preceding paragraph.