G/SPS/N/JPN/1018  
 
10 May 2022  
(22-3651) 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:  The region of Stara Zagora in Bulgaria  
5. Title of the notified document:  Import suspension of poultry meat and egg products 
from the region of Stara Zagora in Bulgaria . Language(s):  . Number of pages:   
6. Description of content:  In order to prevent the introduction of High Pathogenicity Avian 
Influenza (HPAI) virus into Japan, MAFF has suspended the import of poultry meat and egg 
products from the region of Stara Zagora in Bulgaria, including those shipped through third 
countries, since 26 April 2022, based on the "Animal Health Requirements for poultry meat 
etc. to be exported to Japan from the Republic of Bulgaria" and Articles 37 and 44 of the 
"Act on Domestic Animal I nfectious Disease Control".  
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 HPAI 
was confirmed in poultry holding in the region of Stara Zagora in Bulgaria.  
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, chapter number) : Chapter 10.4. "Infection with high 
pathogenicity avian influenza viruses"  
[ ] Inter national 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:   G/SPS/N/JPN/1018  
 
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  10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Current  "Animal Health Requirements for poultry meat etc. to be exported to Japan from 
the Republic of Bulgaria":  
https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/hou/require/pdf/Bulgaria_AHRs_poultrymeat_20220120.pdf  
(available in English and Japanese)  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
26 April 2022  
[ ] 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