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Overview on the regulations pursuant to the LPG Act

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The administrative procedures under the Act on the Securing of Safety and the Optimization of Transaction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (the “LPG Act”) are explained on this page.

The application forms are stipulated in the Executive Ordinance for the LPG Act (the “Ordinance”), and the documents to be attached are specified in the Notification in addition to the Ordinance. However, you are recommended to confirm the details with the department in charge of high pressure gas of the prefectural government having the jurisdiction (or the fire department having the jurisdiction if the authority has been delegated).

Relationship between the LPG Act and the High Pressure Gas Safety Act

The LPG Act lays down the regulations relating to sale of LPG to general consumers, tasks related to maintenance of security, supply facility, and consumption facility, as well as LPG appliances. As shown in the diagram below, the LPG Act is closely related with the High Pressure Gas Safety Act.

relatioship between the LPG Act and HPGS Act

Overview on the procedures and regulations relating to LPG Dealer

The application procedures required for LPG Dealers are explained below.

(1) Application for registration of LPG sales business

A person intending to engage in the sales business of LPG must register with the administrative agency. (Article 3 of the LPG Act)

Here, the term “administrative agency” is used because the application destination differs depending on the place of establishment of the business. Specifically, the application shall be made as laid out in Article 4 of the Ordinance.

Category of applicant Application destination
A person intending to engage in the LPG sales business by establishing places of sale within one prefecture The governor of the prefecture having the jurisdiction over the locations of the places of sale
A person intending to engage in the LPG sales business by establishing places of sale in two or more prefectures but within area(s) under the jurisdiction of one of the Regional Bureaus of Economy, Trade and Industry The Head (or the Branch Manager) of the Industrial Safety and Inspection Department having the jurisdiction over the locations of the places of sale
A person intending to engage in the LPG sales business by establishing places of sale in areas under the jurisdiction of two or more of the Regional Bureaus of Economy, Trade and Industry The Minister of Trade, Industry and Economy

(2) Notification report on a change in the registered administrative agency

If a registered LPG Dealer intends to establish a place of sale at a location outside of the jurisdiction of the registered administrative agency, he/she must apply for registration to the administrative agency having the jurisdiction over the scheduled place of establishment of the new place of sale, and notify the fact to the originally registered administrative agency. (Article 6 of the LPG Act)

(3) Notification report on a change in the place of sale, etc.

When a registered LPG Dealer has changed any of the registered matters (the name and location of place of sales, representative of the corporation, storage facility, Safety Agency, compensation for damage, etc.), he/she must notify the change without delay to the registered administrative agency. (Article 8 of the LPG Act)

(4) Notification report on succession

If an LPG Dealer transfers the whole of his/her business or if inheritance, merger, or division (only that causing the whole of the business to be succeeded) has taken place regarding an LPG Dealer, the person who received the whole of the business, the heir, the corporation that continued after the merger or that was established as a result of the merger, or the corporation that succeeded the whole of the business as a result of the division may succeed the position of LPG Dealer, unless otherwise specifically provided. The successor must notify the fact to the registered administrative agency. (Article 10 of the LPG Act) Note that the documents required, destination of notification, and other matters differ depending on whether a change resulted from the succession regarding the registered administrative agency.

(5) Notification report on appointment and dismissal of Business Chief

An LPG Dealer must appoint a Business Chief for each place of sale from among those who are licensed as Class 2 Sales Safety Chief and possess the prescribed experiences as laid out in the Ministerial Ordinance, and have the Business Chief perform his/her duties. A notification must be made to the registered administrative agency when a Business Chief and his/her deputy have been appointed. (Article 19 of the LPG Act) The same applies when a change has been made thereto.

(6) Application for permission on installation (change) of a storage facility, application for permission on a change, notification report on a minor change

When an LPG Dealer intends to install a storage facility with storage capacity of 3,000 kg or more, he/she must obtain permission for each such storage facility from the governor of the prefecture having the jurisdiction over the location of the facility. (Article 36 of the LPG Act)

Similarly, the LPG Dealer must obtain a permission of the prefectural governor when changing the location, structure, or equipment of the storage facility. (Paragraph 1, Article 37-2 of the LPG Act) However, a minor change must be notified to the prefectural governor without delay after the change. (Paragraph 2, Article 37-2 of the LPG Act)

(7) Application for permission on installation (change) of Specified Supply Facility, application for permission on a change, notification report on a minor change

When an LPG Dealer intends to install a Specified Supply Facility with a storage capacity of 3,000 kg or more (1,000 kg or more if a storage tank or a bulk storage tank is included), he/she must obtain permission for each Specified Supply Facility from the governor of the prefecture having the jurisdiction over its location. (Article 36 of the LPG Act)

Similarly, the LPG Dealer must obtain permission of the prefectural governor when changing the location, structure, or equipment of the Specified Supply Facility. (Paragraph 1, Article 37-2 of the LPG Act) However, a minor change must be notified to the prefectural governor without delay after the change. (Paragraph 2, Article 37-2 of the LPG Act)

(8) Application for Completion Inspection

An LPG Dealer may not use the storage facility or the Specified Supply Facility for which permission has been obtained for its installation or a change, unless the facility successfully passes the Completion Inspection conducted by the prefectural governor. (Article 37-3 of the LPG Act)

However, the LPG Dealer is exempt from the Completion Inspection conducted by the prefectural governor if the facility was subjected to a Completion Inspection conducted by KHK or Designated Completion Conformity Inspection Body and the LPG Dealer notified the fact to the prefectural governor. (Provisional clause of Article 37-3 of the LPG Act)

(9) Business report

An LPG Dealer must report on the prescribed matters to the registered administrative agency, within three months from the end of each business year. (Article 82 of the LPG Act)

(10) Notification report on abolition

An LPG Dealer must notify the registered administrative agency without delay when he/she has abolished the LPG sales business. (Article 23 of the LPG Act)

*Application procedures for Accredited LPG Dealer have been omitted.

Overview on the procedures and regulations relating to Safety Agency

The application procedures for Safety Agency are explained below.

(1) Application for accreditation for Safety Agency and application for renewal of the accreditation

A person intending to engage in safety services must be accredited by the administrative agency shown below, in accordance with the category of safety services. (Article 29 of the LPG Act) The accreditation becomes invalid unless renewed within five years from the day of the accreditation. The accredited person (hereinafter referred to as “Safety Agency”) intending to continue the safety services must apply for renewing the accreditation. (Article 32 of the LPG Act)

Category of applicant Destination to submit the application form
A person intending to conduct safety services for general consumers of LPG sold for business at places of sale established in area(s) within one prefecture The governor of the prefecture having the jurisdiction over the place of sale
A person intending to conduct safety services for general consumers of LPG sold for business at places of sale established in areas in two or more prefectures but within an area under the jurisdiction of one of the Industrial Safety and Inspection Departments The Head (or the Branch Manager) of the Industrial Safety and Inspection Department having the jurisdiction over the locations of the places of sale
A person intending to conduct safety services for general consumers of LPG sold for business at places of sale established in areas under the jurisdiction of two or more Industrial Safety and Inspection Departments The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry

(2) Application for authorization of Safety Service Rule, application for authorization of a change

A Safety Agency must establish the rule relating to the safety services and have the rule authorized by the administrative agency that accredited the Safety Agency. (Article 35 of the LPG Act)

An application for authorization is also needed when the Safety Service Rule is to be changed.

(3) Application for authorization of an increase in the number of general consumers, etc., and notification report on a decrease of the same

When a Safety Agency intends to conduct safety services for a number of general consumers, etc. greater than the range having been accredited for each category of safety services, the Safety Agency must obtain authorization of the accreditation administrative agency. (Paragraph 1, Article 33 of the LPG Act)

When the number of general consumers, etc. has been decreased to a number below the range, the Safety Agency must notify the fact to the accreditation administrative agency without delay. (Paragraph 2, Article 33 of the LPG Act)

When applying for the authorization on the increase or notifying on the decrease in the number of general consumers, etc., application would also be necessary for authorization of the change to the Safety Service Rule.

(4) Notification report on a change of accreditation administrative agency

When the Safety Agency intends to conduct safety services at the places of sales which locate outside of authorized administrative area, the Safety Agency must obtain accreditation of the administrative agency having the jurisdiction over such locations of the places of sale and report the fact to the accreditation administrative agency before the change. (Article 35-4 of the LPG Act)

(5) Notification report on a change to Safety Agency

A Safety Agency must report to the accreditation administrative agency on any change to its name or title and address, to the name of representative in case of a corporation or to the location of business where safety services are conducted. (Article 35-4 of the LPG Act)

(6) Notification report on succession

Similar provisions regarding succession are imposed on Safety Agencies as with LPG Dealers. Please note that the documents required and the destination of reporting differ depending on whether there is a change to the accreditation administrative agency as a result of the succession. (Article 35-4 of the LPG Act)

(7) Business report

A Safety Agency must report on the prescribed matters to the accreditation administrative agency, within three months from the end of each business year. (Article 82 of the LPG Act)

(8) Notification report on abolition

When a Safety Agency has abolished safety services, the Safety Agency must report the fact without delay to the accreditation administrative agency. (Article 35-4 of the LPG Act)

Overview of the procedures and regulations relating to fillers

The application procedures required of fillers are explained below.

(1) Application for permission on filling equipment, application for permission on a change, notification report on a minor change

A person intending to fill LPG into a supply facility must obtain permission of the governor of the prefecture having the jurisdiction over the location of each of the filling facilities. (Article 37-4 of the LPG Act)

Similarly, permission needs to be obtained from the prefectural governor when a change is made to the location, structure, equipment, or device of the filling facilities. (Paragraph 3, Article 37-4 of the LPG Act) A notification report must be made to the prefectural governor without delay on any minor change. (Paragraph 3, Article 37-4 of the LPG Act)

(2) Application on Completion Inspection

A filler may not use the filling facility for which permission has been granted for itself or its change, unless subjecting the filling facility to a Completion Inspection conducted by the prefectural governor and successfully passing the inspection. (Article 37-4 of the LPG Act)

The filler is exempt from the Completion Inspection conducted by the prefectural governor if the filling facility was subjected to a Completion Inspection conducted by KHK or a Designated Completion Conformity Inspection Body and the filler has notified the fact to the prefectural governor. (Article 37-4 of the LPG Act)

(3) Application on Safety Inspection

A filler must have his/her filling facility subjected to a Safety Inspection conducted by the prefectural governor once a year, for confirming whether the filling facility conforms to the technical standards. (Paragraph 1, Article 37-6 of the LPG Act)

KHK and Designated Safety Conformity Inspection Bodies may conduct Safety Inspection, in addition to prefectural governors. If a filler had his/her filling facility subjected to a Safety Inspection conducted by KHK or a Designated Safety Conformity Inspection Body and notified the fact to the prefectural governor, the filler is exempt from the Safety Inspection conducted by the prefectural governor. (Article 37-6 of the LPG Act)

Overview of the procedures and regulations relating to installation of LPG facilities

The application procedures relating to installation of LPG facilities are explained below.

(1) Notification report on installation of an LPG facility, notification report on a change

A person who has installed an LPG supply facility with storage capacity over 500 kg, other than a designated supply facility, in a school, a hospital, or other facilities stipulated in Article 86 of the Ordinance must notify the governor of the prefecture having the jurisdiction over the location of the facility, without delay. (Article 38-3 of the LPG Act)

A similar notification report must be made if the facility was provided with work for a change accompanied by extension of a supply pipe, work for a change of the location of the storage facility, or work for a change accompanied by increase in the storage capacity. (Article 87 of the Ordinance)

(2) Notification report on installation work for Specified LPG Equipment, notification report on a change

A person intending to engage in an installation work business for Specified LPG Equipment must notify the governor of the prefecture having the jurisdiction over the location of the place of business, for each place of business within 30 days from the start of the business. (Paragraph 1, Article 38-10 of the LPG Act)

The person who executed the installation work for Specified LPG Equipment must notify the prefectural governor without delay when there is a change to the matters that have been notified. (Paragraph 2, Article 38-10 of the LPG Act)

(3) Notification report on abolition of installation work business for Specified LPG Equipment

The person engaged in an installation work business for Specified LPG Equipment must notify the prefectural governor, to whom the notification on start of the business was made, without delay when the installation work business for Specified LPG Equipment has been abolished. (Paragraph 2, Article 38-10 of the LPG Act)

(4) Application for issuance of license of LPG Installation Engineer, application for reissuance, application for rewriting

Only an LPG Installation Engineer may engage in the installation work for LPG equipment provided in Article 108 of the Ordinance. (Article 38-7 of the LPG Act)

A person intending to be an LPG Installation Engineer must have a license of LPG Installation Engineer issued. The license is issued upon an application by a person who has successfully passed the certification examination for LPG Installation Engineer (a national qualification examination) or a person who has completed the training program conducted by KHK or a Specified Training Organization. (Article 38-4 of the LPG Act)

An application also needs to be made for reissuance of the license when the license has been damaged, stained, or lost, or for having matters indicated on the license rewritten.

*The application procedures relating to LPG appliances have been omitted.

Services conducted by KHK in relation to the administrative procedures under the LPG Act

  • KHK conducts Designated Equipment Inspection for bulk storage tanks.
  • KHK offers compulsory training programs that Business Chiefs, LPG Installation Engineers, and filling workers must take within a specified period.
  • KHK offers certification training programs that exempt participants who have completed the program from a part of test subjects of the national qualification examination for the license of Class 2 Sales Safety Chief required for working as a Business Chief.
  • KHK offers training courses for persons intending to work as filling workers. The course is mandatory for working as a filling worker.
  • KHK offers various types of training courses for safety and security of LPG.