Japan’s trade ministry has ordered Apple Japan to state on its web site that users who are concerned about their iPod nano portable music player catching fire can receive a replacement battery, reports “Reuters” (http://macosg.me/2/nt).

The ministry ordered Apple to publish an “easy to understand” statement online explaining how users of the devices — purportedly responsible for four cases of minor burns in Japan — can receive replacement batteries and obtain advice, a spokesman for the ministry told “Reuters.”

Six incidents involving the 2005 model nano catching fire while being charged have been reported to the Ministry of Economy since 2008. And there were purportedly an additional 21 cases involving incidents where the players overheated and emitted smoke since 2005.