Japanese Standards

Fuel Standards

Regulatory Authorities

Japanese emission standards for engines and vehicles are jointly developed, under the authority of the Air Pollution Control Law, by two government ministries:

In developing engine emission standards and policies, the Ministry of the Environment relies on recommendations of its advisory body known as the Central Environment Council (CEC).

New Engines and Vehicles

On-Road Engines and Vehicles

Japan introduced fist new engine emissions standards for on-road vehicles in the late 1980’s. The Japanese standards, however, remained relaxed through the 1990’s. In 2003 the MOE finalized very stringent 2005 emission standards for both light and heavy vehicles. At the time they came to power, the 2005 heavy-duty emission standards (NOx = 2 g/kWh, PM = 0.027 g/kWh) were the most stringent diesel emission regulation in the world. Effective 2009, these limits are further tightened (NOx = 0.7 g/kWh, PM = 0.01 g/kWh) to a level in-between the US 2010 and Euro V requirements.

Off-Road Engines

First emission regulations for new off-road engines and vehicles, known as MOT/MOC standards, were adopted by the former Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Ministry of Construction (MOC).

After the reorganization of Japanese government in 2001, off-road engine emissions fell under the jurisdiction of MOE and MLIT, the same ministries that are responsible for regulating emissions from highway engines. First MOE/MLIT standards for off-road engines were promulgated in 2005.

Marine Engines

In 2003, the MLIT proposed emission regulations for new and existing ocean-going ships. The regulations, aligned with the 1997 MARPOL 73/78 Annex VI limits (by International Maritime Organization), require cutting NOx emissions by about 10% from previous non-regulated levels.

In-Use Vehicle Regulations

Automotive NOx and PM Law

In 1992, to cope with NOx pollution from existing vehicle fleets the MOE adopted the Motor Vehicle NOx Law, which aimed at the elimination of the oldest, most polluting vehicles from in-use fleets in certain geographical areas. In 2001, the regulation has been amended to also include PM emission requirements, and renamed as Automotive NOx and PM Law.

Tokyo Retrofit Program

The Tokyo government and several neighboring prefectures adopted diesel emission regulations, which require retrofitting of older in-use diesel vehicles with PM control devices (catalytic converters or particulate filters), or else replacing them with newer, cleaner models. The Tokyo retrofit requirements became effective in October 2003.