The Agency for Cultural Affairs is considering imposing a ban on the importation of low-priced Japanese music CDs made abroad for overseas markets by Japanese record companies, according to Japanese government sources.

The ban would be effective for five years after the release of CDs in export markets in consideration of consumer interests. CDs containing Japanese pop songs and other popular music sell for less than 1,000 yen in China compared with more than 2,000 yen at home, according to the Nihon Keizai newspaper.