G/SPS/N/JPN/753  
 
20 April 2020  
(20-3076) 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:  The United States of America, 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 poultry meat and egg products 
from the state of South Carolina of the United States of America . Language(s): . 
Number of pages:  
6. Description of content:  In order to prevent the introduction of H7N3 High pathogenic 
avian influenza (HPAI) virus into Japan, the MAFF has suspended the import of poultry 
meat and egg products from the state of South Carolina of the United States of America, 
including those ship ped through third countries, based on articles 37 and 44 of the "Act 
on Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control" and "Animal Health Requirements for the 
poultry meat etc. to be exported to Japan from the U.S." since 10 April 2020.  
Poultry meat products derived from animals slaughtered on and after 16 March 2020 and 
poultry egg products derived from eggs laid on and after 16 March 2020 from the State 
of South Carolina of the United States of America are not eligible to be exported to Japan, 
taking into co nsideration the incubation period of the AI 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 pest or disease, [  ] protect  territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  An outbreak of 
H7N3 HPAI was confirmed in meat -type turkey farm in the state of South Carolina of the 
United States of America.  G/SPS/N/JPN/753  
 
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  9. Is there a relev ant 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, chapter number) : 
Chapter 10.4. "Infection with avian influenza viruses"  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] 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 
"Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control" and " Animal Health Requirements 
for the poultry meat etc. to be exported to Japan from the U.S.":  
http://www.ma ff.go.jp/aqs/hou/require/pdf/25 -186us.pdf  
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/hou/require/attach/pdf/chicken -meet-82.pdf  
(available in English and Japanese)   
11. Date o f entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  1 
April 2020     
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax numbe r 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  
Internationa l Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
Fax: +(8131) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp