G/SPS/N/JPN/726  
 
20 February 2020  
(20-1325) 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):  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:  Denmark, and countries, regions or zones 
approved as free from HPAI and LPAI by Japan 
https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/news/third -free.html   
5. Title of the notified document:  Import suspension of poultry meat and egg products 
from Denmark . Language(s): English . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content:  In order to prevent the introduction of low pathogenic avian 
influenza (H5N1 LPAI) virus into Japan, MAFF has suspended th e import of poultry meat 
and egg products from Denmark, including those shipped through third countries, from 
31 January 2020 . This is  based on the "Animal Health Requirements for poultry meat to 
be exported to Japan from Denmark" and the Article 37 and 44  of the "Act on Domestic 
Animal Infectious Disease Control". Poultry meat products derived from animals 
slaughtered on and after 30 December 2019 , and poultry egg products derived from eggs 
laid on and after 30 December 2019 are not eligible to be exported  to Japan, taking into 
consideration the incubation period of the LPAI virus stipulated in the OIE Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant p est or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:   
On 29  January  2020, H5N1 LPAI was confirmed in a sample taken on 20 January 2020 in 
a commercial poultry holding with org anic laying hens in the village Fuglebjerg in 
Sæderup, Aalborg, West.  
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) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  G/SPS/N/JPN/726  
 
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  [X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] 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 poultry meat to be exported to Japan from 
Denmark"  
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/hou/require/attach/pdf/chicken -meet-76.pdf  
(available  in English and Japanese)  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
31 January 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: +(8131) 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: +(8131) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp