Two Regulatory Signals Drug-Store Chains Cannot Ignore
The Japan Association of Chain Drug Stores has relayed two Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry notices — one on supply-chain payment reform, one on gender-diversity designation — that carry practical compliance timelines for retail operators.
Payment Compliance: A Two-Layer Tightening
According to the association's circular, a law governing appropriate payment practices — referred to as the Torihiki Tekisei-ka Act — came into force on 1 January 2026. A second layer follows on 1 April 2027, when an Anti-Monopoly Act provision specifically addressing payment methods related to manufacturing subcontracting and similar arrangements — what the ministry calls the 'payment notification' — will also take effect. Together, the two instruments are designed to accelerate the phase-out of promissory notes across supply chains. For drug-store operators whose procurement networks span cosmetics manufacturers, quasi-drug suppliers, and private-label producers, the practical implication is clear: payment terms and instruments need to be audited against both instruments before the April 2027 deadline.