G/TBT/N/JPN/702  
25 June 2021  
(21-5146) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  JAPAN   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  
Among  multi-air conditioners for buildings (separate type with a structure in which two 
or more indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit, and the air temperature or 
humidity can be adjusted for each indoor unit), other than the following :  
1) Shipped on the premise of using the existing refrigerant piping  
2) Equipped with the structure required for refrigerant diversion in order to use cooling 
and heating at the same time.  
3) Equipped with a function to suppress a decrease in heating capac ity when the outside 
air temperature is low  
4) A structure that uses water as a heat source  
5) A structure with a dedicated heat storage tank for storing heat for cooling or 
cooling/heating  
HS:8415.10  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the not ified document:  Revision of the 
Ministerial ordinance and Notifications under the Act on Rational Use and Appropriate 
Management of Fluorocarbons. (2 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Among the already designated products, the Minister newly 
proposes the standard of judgement for part of multi -air conditioners for buildings. In 
order to do it, the "Ministerial order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry", 
which stipulates the scope for manufactures or importers who are designated to receive 
the recommendation by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, is revised and the 
standards of judgement and labeling requirement are newly stipulated in the 
"Notifications of the Minist ry of Economy, Trade and Industry".  G/TBT/N/JPN/702  
 
- 2 - 
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  To rationalize and reduce the use of fluorocarbons by accelerating innovation 
with regard to the reduction of the environmental impac ts of fluorocarbons used in each 
designated product and promoting a shift to and dissemination of products which utilize 
non-fluorocarbon and have low global warming potential; Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Act on the Rational Use and Appropriate Management of Fluorocarbons (Act 
No. 64 of 2001);  
https://elaws.e -
gov.go.jp/search/elawsSearch/elaws_search/lsg0500/ detail?lawId=413AC10000
00064  
• This revision is to be publicized in the Official Government Gazette "KAMPO" when 
adopted. Regulations before amendment are available at the following site (in 
Japanese);  
https://elaws.e -gov.go.jp/document?lawid=427M60000400029  
https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/chemical_management/ozone/files/72_aircon -
kokuji_201228.pdf  
• Progress report on the legislation of the Cabinet Order under the Act on Rational 
Use and Appropriate Management of Fluorocarbons compiled by the Industrial 
Structure Council's working group;  
https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/sankoshin/seizo_sangyo/kagaku_busshitsu/flo
n_taisaku/index.html  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  September 2021  
Proposed date of entry into force:  March 2022  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Japan TBT Enquiry Point  
International Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of foreign Affairs (MOFA)  
2-2-1, Kasumigaseki  
Chiyoda -ku 
Tokyo  
100-8919 
+(81 3) 5501 83 44  
+(81 3) 5501 83 43 (Fax)  
enquiry@mofa.go.jp  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/JPN/21_4313_00_e.pdf