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[August 2018]

FY2017 Summary of Harmful and Hazardous Incident Data received through PIO-NET

This summary reflects "harmful/hazardous incident data"1 collected by PIO-NET2 in FY2017.

Details of the information will be described on the "Annual Report on Consumer Affairs 2018", which will be released on NCAC's website in October 2018.

  1. 1 "Harmful/hazardous incident data" combines data on products, services, or facilities involved in an incident of harm, i.e. bodily injury and/or sickness or other disease, etc. ("harmful incident data") and cases in which there was the potential for harm, even though no actual harm was suffered ("hazardous incident data"). The data was registered through the end of May 2018. Moreover, the data excludes inquiries referred from local consumer affairs centers, etc. to NCAC.
  2. 2 PIO-NET is a database that collects information on inquiries concerning consumer affairs by linking NCAC with local consumer affairs centers and similar organizations across Japan via an online network.

Trends and characteristics in FY2017

  • There were 14,516 incidents reported as "harmful/hazardous incident data", a 4.9% increase compared to the previous year.
  • For "harmful incident data" as which 11,265 incidents were reported, the top three products/services were "health foods", "cosmetics", and "medical services". For "hazardous incident data" as which 3,251 cases were reported, the top three products/services were "four-wheel automobiles", "prepared foods", and "bicycles".
  • Regarding "harmful incident data", there was a decrease of 410 incidents from the previous year, affected by a decrease of 133 incidents in "medical services", a decrease of 121 incidents in "beautician services", a decrease of 112 incidents in "beverages", and a decrease of 78 in incidents in "eating out", while there was an increase of 402 incidents in "cosmetics".
  • Regarding "hazardous incident data", there was a decrease of 332 cases from the previous year, significantly affected by a reduction of 242 cases in "cooking ranges and related", which was in large numbers in the previous year due to recalled gas cartridges. There was an increase of 32 cases in "four-wheel automobiles" and an increase of 24 cases in "snack foods".