A panel of ministers tasked with tackling dioxin pollution formally adopted basic guidelines Tuesday for measures aimed at cutting such emissions by 90 percent within the next four years.

The ministerial committee on dioxin, headed by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, pledged efforts to cut the nation's overall dioxin emissions by 90 percent from 1997 levels by the end of 2002.

Japan's level of dioxin is reportedly as much as 10 times higher than in most Western nations because up to 90 percent of its waste is incinerated -- the main source of dioxin emissions.