Association References
	Consumer Privacy - Data Protection Regulations
	Helping International Direct Marketers Succeed

Association References

Japan Direct Mail Association (JDMA)
www.jdma.or.jp
Focus: Mailing service providers and users including lettershops.

Japan Direct Marketing Association (JADMA)
www.jadma.org
Focus: Catalog marketers and related DM industries

Japan Academic Society of Direct Marketing (JASDM)
www.dm-gakkai.jp
Focus: Holds seminars and symposia on direct marketing

Japan Telemarketing Association (JTA)
www.jtasite.or.jp/top.html
Focus: Telemarketing in Japan

American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ)
www.accj.or.jp
Focus: Interests of international business in Japan

Consumer Privacy &ndash Data Protection Regulations:

JAPAN ENACTS PRIVACY LAW WITH APRIL 1, 2005 COMPLIANCE DEADLINE

  Japan passed the landmark Personal Data Protection Law in May 2003, responding to growing consumer and social pressure to secure individual privacy rights in commerce. The lead government agency for coordinating the implementation of the law, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), published regulations on October 22, 2004 requiring full-compliance effective on April 1, 2005.

Although Japan’s government ministries continue to develop and publish numerous competing regulations, responsible companies in Japan are in full support and compliance with the spirit of the new regulations. For example, those in the financial world will be covered by regulations published by Japan’s METI and Financial Services Agency. Organizations. Conversely, companies in the IT business will be covered by Japan’s METI and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Risks of Non&ndash Compliance   --

  Companies failing to comply fully with the law face a variety of penalties, including steep fines, prison sentences for responsible company officers, and freezes on the use of databases in violation of the law.   Penalties may be triggered via consumer or employee complaints, or ministerial audits and interventions.  

Full compliance was mandatory by April 1, 2005.

Multiple Jurisdictions Pose Compliance Challenge --

  The implementation of Japan's privacy law was somewhat problematic for many companies, as multiple Japanese government ministries developed separate regulations governing various sectors of the economy.   In some instances, multinational firms have found themselves subject to overlapping regulations issued by various ministries.  

Understanding the Core Requirements of the Japanese Privacy Law --

Companies operating in Japan should be in full compliance by April 1, 2005.

On this date, companies operating in Japan are required to have information privacy and security protocols in place for databases containing consumer or employee information.   Additionally, vendors or subcontractors handling such information must also be in compliance also with the law's provisions.  

From a practical perspective, Japan privacy-based regulatory mandates require initiatives in a number of areas. A general overview of compliance initiatives required is below.

a) Database Management: Define the scope and limit the purpose of databases containing consumer or employee information. Subject databases are those with greater than 5,000 records that have been in use for more than six months.

b) Notification: Implement notification procedures for consumers and employees covered by databases in question.

c) Security: Ensure security of databases and proprietary information.

d) Training: Implement training protocols for staff on database security and information management protocols.

e) Disclosure: Implementation of a transparent information disclosure system easily accessible by the public, particularly consumers, regarding the storage and use of personal data.

f) Vendor Liability: Amend or change existing vendor and new or future vendor contracts to reflect specific language pertaining to privacy policy compliance.

Helping International Direct Marketers Succeed

ACTON International, a respected leader in international list and data acquisition services, brings more than 25 years of active international marketing experience helping each client minimize across-border marketing costs and maximize revenue potential country by country.

ACTON International, headquartered in the USA, employs a mature, experienced multi-language direct marketing and data specialist staff with borderless, seamless client-service operations in Germany, Japan, Brazil and the United States. The ACTON-Client Advantage:

• Exclusive manager for business and consumer lists in over 200 countries.
• Long-term worldwide marketing alliances and business network provide access to additional lists and targeting data often unavailable or unknown to single marketing organizations.
• Research and Analysis services include profile and response analysis, predictive modeling, penetration studies, market research and more.
• Advanced multi-language data-processing including Kanji.
• Accurate country-specific addressing output standards.
• Comprehensive electronic data and graphic transfer services with unparalleled security standards.
• Trusted integrity. Client confidentiality assured.

ACTON International

USA Headquarters
Phone: 402 742 2820
USA Fax: 402 470 3965
Email: listinfo@acton.com
www.acton.com