G/TBT/N/JPN/637  
21 October 2019  
(19-6855) 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):  Rigid 
polyurethane foam heat insulation material; (HS: 392113)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Revisions of the 
cabinet order, the ministerial ordinance, and the notification of the Ministry of Economy, 
Trade and Indus try (METI) under the Act on the Rational Use of Energy (2 page(s), in 
English)  
6. Description of content:  Rigid polyurethane foam, which is expected to become 
widespread to a considerable extent in years to come, is newly designated as a specified 
heat insulation material. New standards to be achieved by FY2026 are established for rigid 
polyurethane foam.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  To promote rationalization of overall energy consumption in Japan through 
popularization of building materials with high level of heat loss prevention performance, in 
order  to cope with the recent increase of energy consumption in the consumer sector, 
climate change and so forth.  
8. Relevant documents:   
- The Act on the Rational Use of Energy;  
https://elaws.e -
gov.go.jp/search/ela wsSearch/elaws_search/lsg0500/detail?lawId=354AC0000000049  
 
- The report on the legislation of the standards under the Act on the Rational Use of 
Energy compiled by the Advisory Committee for Energy's working group (in Japanese);  
https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/enech o/shoene_shinene/sho_energy/kenchiku_zairyo/pd
f/20190730_report.pdf  
This revision is to be publicised 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/search/elawsSearch/elaws_ search/lsg0500/detail?lawId=354CO0000000267  
 G/TBT/N/JPN/637  
 
- 2 - 
 
  https://elaws.e -
gov.go.jp/search/elawsSearch/elaws_search/lsg0500/detail?lawId=354M50000400074  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  December 2019  
Proposed date of entry into force:  Around Spring of 2020  
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:   
International Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
2-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda -ku 
Tokyo 100 -8919, Japan  
Tel.: +(81) 3 5501 8344  
Fax: +(81) 3 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/TBT/JPN/19_5745_00_e.pdf