G/SPS/N/JPN/824  
 
8 January 2021   
(21-0303) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  JAPAN  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Live poultry, poultry meat  and egg products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  France, and countries, regions or zones approved 
as free from HPAI and LPAI by Japan  
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/news/third -free.html   
5. Title of the notified document:  Import suspension of live poultry, poultry meat and 
egg products from the department of Haute -Corse . Language(s): . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content:  In order to prevent the introduction of H5N8 Highly pathogenic 
avian influenza (HPAI ) virus into Japan, MAFF has suspended the import of live poultry, 
poultry meat and egg products from the department of Haute -Corse, France, including 
those shipped through third countries, based on the Articles 37 and 44 of the "Act on 
Domestic Animal Inf ectious Disease Control", "Animal Health Requirements for day -old 
chicks to be exported to Japan from France" and "Animal Health Requirements for poultry 
meat etc. to be exported to Japan from France" since 18 November 2020. Poultry meat 
products derived f rom animals slaughtered on and after 17 October 2020 and poultry egg 
products derived from eggs laid on and after 17 October 2020 are not eligible to be 
exported to Japan, taking into consideration the incubation period of the AI virus 
stipulated in the OI E Terrestrial Animal Health Code.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  On 16 November 
2020, H5N8 HPAI was confirmed in a premise holding poultry in the department of Haute -
Corse, France.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapt er number) : Chapter 10.4. "Infection with avian 
influenza viruses"  G/SPS/N/JPN/824  
 
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  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Current  "Animal Health Requirements for day -old chicks to be exported to Japan from 
France" a nd "Animal Health Requirements for poultry meat etc. to be exported to Japan 
from France"  
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/hou/require/attach/pdf/kakin -7.pdf 
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/hou/require/attach/pdf/chicken -meet-67.pdf  (available in 
English and Japanese)  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of appli cation (as applicable):  
18 November 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other  body:   
Japan Enquiry Point  
International Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
Fax: +(81 31) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Japan Enquiry Point  
International Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
Fax: +(81 31) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp