ensure the legal effectiveness of measures in accordance with the “Act on Special Measures concerning Cargo Inspections etc. Conducted by the Government Taking into Consideration United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874, etc.”

Also, in light of leadership changes at North Korea, MLIT is strengthening its readiness including information gathering and communication to thoroughly implement measures in preparation of worst case scenarios and will continue to maintain the monitoring and watching framework. Also, for the cases of missile launches referred to “artificial satellites” conducted by North Korea on April, 13 and December 12, 2012, information was collected and shared as part of the efforts to ensure the safety and comfort of citizens.

## (2) Responding to Armed Attacks Situations and Other Situations Under the Civil Protection Plan

In accordance with the “Act concerning the Measures for Protection of the People in Armed Attack Situations, etc” and “Basic Guidelines for Protection of the People” which stipulates measures regarding the evacuation, rescue and minimization of losses due to armed attacks situations, etc., MLIT, the Geographical Survey Institute, the Japan Meteorological Agency, and Japan Coast Guard stipulate “Civil Protection Plan.” $ ^{Note} $ MLIT will implement support such as communication and coordination with designated public institution that serve as transporters for the transport of evacuating residents in accordance with requests from local government; the Japan Coast Guard is designated to carry out the transport of evacuating residents and emergency supplies when the transport capacity of designated public institution is insufficient and to carry out search, rescue, and emergency activities.

## 6 Infectious Disease Measures

Regarding measures for the novel influenza, in accordance with the government's action plan being revised on September 20, 2011, MLIT's action plan was also revised and to make it possible to flexibly implement measures in accordance with the degree of virulence as well as cooperation with transportation companies and other businesses that maintain society's functions to further clarify the system for measures to be implemented by the ministry as a whole. The main points of this revision is ① to strengthen measures to maintain society's functions by transportation companies and others in preparation of the occurrence and spread of new strains of influenza that are highly virulent, ② to categorize outbreak conditions in prefectures in the three steps of "region unaffected stage," "region early outbreak stage," and "region infected stage," ③ to add of bird influenza measures.

In accordance with the government’s action plan, during the period when outbreaks occur abroad, to limit and monitor the entry pathway of the novel influenza from abroad into the country, when the domestic quarantine implementation sites are consolidated, to ensure that it is implemented smoothly, seek the cooperation of airport and port administrators and during the domestic infection period carry out support for transport requests of medical, food, and other supplies. Also, for transportation companies that maintain society’s functions, it is important that the formulation of business continuity planning are actively carried out before the novel influenza outbreaks and when the outbreak does occur to execute the business continuity planning and focus on carrying out those activities and to support the drafting of business continuity plans so that transportation companies can continue to do business and implement measures to prevent the outbreak from spreading further among other necessary support.

Also, for the purpose of strengthening measures against novel influenza, etc. and protect the lives and health of national citizens and minimize effects to the national economy, the “Act on Special Measures for Novel Influenza, etc.” (hereinafter the “Special Measures Act”) was promulgated in May 2012. The Special Measures Act establishes that businesses in general have a legal obligation to take appropriate measures in the conduct of business to cooperate with measures and registered businesses have a legal obligation to continue business operations that contribute to the stability of national citizens’ lives and the economy and designated public institution as transportation companies will have the responsibility of taking all appropriate measures needed to properly implement the transport of people and cargo in accordance with the business plan stipulated when emergency situations such as an outbreak of novel influenza occurs.

Also for the smooth implementation of measures, an expert’s meeting on measures against novel influenza was hosted by the government in preparation for the law coming into effect in May 2013.