OSAKA, Japan—Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. admitted in a statement on its website that it supplied rubber earthquake-protection products for the construction industry that did not conform to official certification.
The statement, released March 13 and published only in Japanese on its website, said the rubber-laminated bearings were certified by Japan's ministry of land, infrastructure and transport, but did not meet to the regulator's criteria.
Toyo said 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.