Revision to Enforcement order, Revision to enforcement regulation , and Establishment of  
Notification  of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) for the Act on the Rational 
Use of Energy  
 
May, 2017 
Energy Efficiency Division  
 Agency for Natural R esources and Energy  
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry  
 
1. Outline of the system   
Under  Article 7 8 of the Act on the Rational Use of Energy ( Law No. 49, 1979 ; hereinafter 
referred to as “Energy Efficiency Law ”), the Minister of Economy, Trade and Indu stry shall  
decide  and make public  the standards of judgment  for manufacturer or importer (hereinafter 
referred to as “manufacturer, etc. ”) in regard to improvement of energy efficiency  performance 
with respect to each specified energy consumption equipment  which is specified in the Act  
(hereinafter referred to as  “energy efficiency standards ”). Additionally, the energy efficiency 
standard s shall be established taking into consideration  of the energy efficiency  of the specifi ed 
energy consumption equipment which has the highest energy efficiency and other related factors. 
(It is called the  “Top Runner Program ”). The scope of the specified  energy consumption 
equipment is defined in Article 15 of the Enforcement Ordinance for the Energy Efficiency Law 
and excep tions are defined in Article 48 of the Enforcement Regulations for the Energy 
Efficiency Law. The Energy Efficiency standards are stipulated by the “Notifications of the 
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry”.  
Furthermore, u nder Article 80 of Energy Effi ciency Law , the Minister  of Economy, Trade and 
Industry  shall decide and notify the matters to be indicated in labels and the matters to be 
observed by manufacturer , etc.  with regard to energy efficiency of the specified energy 
consumption equipment . 
 
2. Outline of amendment  
New energy efficiency standard s are established  for light bulbs  and l ighting equipment . 
 (1) Target scope  
Light bulbs: Incandescent bulb, high-pressure mercury lamp  which has built -in 
stabilizers, self -ballasted fluorescent lamp and sel f-ballasted LED lamp;  
Lighting equipment: Lighting equipment for incandescent lamp, for fluorescent lamp 
and for LED lamp.  
 
(2) Target fiscal year  
Target fiscal year shall be FY2027 for l ight bulb s, and FY2020 for l ighting equipment . 
 
(3) Measuring method of energy consumption efficiency  
a) In the case of l ight bulbs  and l ighting equipment in general, t he value of energy 
consumption efficiency shall be obtained by dividing luminous flux by  power 
consumption , which is measured by method defined in JIS .  
b) In the case of l ighting equipment for incandescent lamp  and for fluorescent lamp  the 
value  of energy consumption efficiency shall be obtained by multiplying the instrument 
efficiency by the value  calculated in 2. (3) a). 
 
(4) Standard method  
In regard to light bulbs  or lighting equipment  which manufacturer, etc. would ship for Japanese market in each fiscal year  since  target fiscal year, weighted average value of 
calculated energy consumption efficiency  by the volume of shipments of each 
manufacturer, etc.  shall not fall below  the target standard value  in each specified 
division . 
 
(5)Labelling requirement  
Manufacturer, etc. shall indicate energy consumption efficiency  and illuminant color , 
etc. of these products.  
 
3. Objective  
To improve en ergy efficiency per formance with respect to light bulls and lighting equipment 
through promoting prevalence of high energy efficiency lighting . 
 
4. Proposed date of entry into force   
Around summer of 2017