FY2016 Summary of Harmful and Hazardous Incident Data registered to PIO-NET

This summary reflects "harmful/hazardous incident data"^* collected by PIO-NET in FY2016.

Details of the information will be given on the "Annual Report on Consumer Affairs 2017" (to be issued in October 2017).

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 2017. Moreover, the data excludes "referred consultations" received by NCAC since FY2007 and by local consumer affairs centers, etc. across Japan since FY2015.

Trends and characteristics in FY2016

• There were 15,153 incidents reported as "harmful/hazardous incident data", a 0.3% increase compared to the previous year.
• For "harmful incident data" as which 11,602 incidents were reported, the top three products/services were "health foods", "cosmetics", and "medical services". For "hazardous incident data" as which 3,551 cases were reported, the top three products/services were "four-wheel automobiles", "cooking ranges and related", and "packaged foods".
• Regarding "harmful incident data", there was an increase of 964 incidents from the previous year, significantly affected by an increase of 968 incidents in "health foods", an increase of 205 incidents in "beverages" and an increase of 132 incidents in "cosmetics". There was a reduction of 74 incidents in "packaged foods" and a reduction of 86 incidents in "beautician services".
• Regarding "hazardous incident data", there was a decrease of 925 cases from the previous year, significantly affected by a reduction of 137 cases in "four-wheel automobiles", which was the top category, a reduction of 159 cases in "packaged foods" and a reduction of 92 cases in "snack foods". There was an increase of 249 cases in "cooking ranges and related", significantly affected by recalled products.