An expanded version of a three-year deregulatory program featuring 405 more items aimed at opening up the public sector to private firms was approved Friday by the government.
One of the new objectives is to bolster punitive measures for violating the Antitrust Law in sectors covered by conventional trading rules.
Another item advocates favorable treatment for whistle-blowers who uncover corporate misdeeds and cooperate fully with the Fair Trade Commission.
Deregulation in sectors tied to fuel cells, which are touted as a future energy source, would be promoted.
Stock companies would be allowed to manage certain graduate schools.
The entire program, proposed by the Council for Regulatory Reform, a government advisory panel, now features 1,153 items.
The panel plans to complete more than 700 items by the end of fiscal 2003.