Toyo in quake-proof rubber scandal

Tokyo - Toyo Tyre & Rubber has admitted supplying rubber earthquake-protection products for the construction industry, which did not conform to official certification.

In a 13 March statement, only published in Japanese on its website, the Osaka-based company said that the rubber-laminated bearings were certified by Japan’s ministry of land, infrastructure and transport, but ‘didnot meet to the regulator’s criteria’.

Japan’s news agency Nikkei said “the company apparently submitted falsified data to the ministry for certification of three products designed to mitigate earthquake shaking, beginning in 2006.”

The ministry revoked the three products' certifications on 13 March, added the report.

Toyo Tyre and Rubber says that it will work with the ministry in offering exchanges of the product and has employed a law firm to carry out a review.

The company supplied the sub-standard products from July 2004 through to February 2015. The products were used in 55 buildings, including hospitals, apartments and government properties.