G/SPS/N/JPN/724  
 
28 January 2020  
(20-0658) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  JAPAN  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)  
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):  Food additive (Iso -α-bitter Acids ), Higher Fatty Acid (Caprylic Acid), 
Higher Fatty Acid (Capric Acid), Higher Fatty Acid (Stearic Acid), Higher Fatty  Acid 
(Palmitic Acid), Higher Fatty Acid (Behenic Acid), Higher Fatty Acid (Myristic Acid), Higher 
Fatty Acid (Lauric Acid), Quicklime and Ethyl Acetoacetate . 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All tr ading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Revision of the Specifications and Standards for Foods, 
Food Additives Etc . Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  20 pages  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/JPN/20_0627_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Establishment of the specifications for Iso -α-bitter Acids, High er 
Fatty Acid (Caprylic Acid), Higher Fatty Acid (Capric Acid), Higher Fatty Acid (Stearic 
Acid), Higher Fatty Acid (Palmitic Acid), Higher Fatty Acid (Behenic Acid), Higher Fatty 
Acid (Myristic Acid), Higher Fatty Acid (Lauric Acid) and Quicklime, and rev ision of the 
specifications for Ethyl Acetoacetate.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is the re 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) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it de viates from the 
international standard:   G/SPS/N/JPN/724  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  The Food 
Sanitation Act. When adopted, this revision will be published in Kampo,  the Japanese 
Government Gazette  (available in Japanese)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible after the final date of 
the comment period.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible after the final date 
of the comment period.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible after publication.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 28 March 2020  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail ad dress 
(if available) of other body:   
Japan Enquiry Point  
International Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
Fax: +(813) 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: +(813) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp