Japan’s parliament enacted on Thursday a law that bans drones from flying over important facilities such as the prime minister’s office and allows police officers to destroy drones if necessary.
The legislation is expected to take effect before a foreign ministerial meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations takes place in Hiroshima on April 11-12.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition has been seeking early enactment of the bill to strengthen anti-terrorism measures ahead of the G7 summit in the central Japanese district of Mie in late May.
READ MORE: Japan government eyes urban drone ban in wake of security breach at Abe’s office
The civil aeronautics law was revised to regulate drone flights in September after a small drone was found on the roof of the prime minister’s office building last April.
A man was later convicted over the incident. The drone carried a container filled with radioactive soil and the man’s lawyers said he flew the drone onto the roof of Abe’s office as a protest over the government’s nuclear policy.