G/SPS/N/JPN/727  
 
2 March 2020  
(20-1549) 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:  Bulgaria, and countries, regions or zones  
approved as free from HPAI and LPAI  by Japan : 
https://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 Bulgaria . Language(s):  Number of pages:  
6. Description of content:  In order to prevent the introduction of H5N8 highly pathogenic 
avian influenza (HPAI) virus into Japan, MAFF has suspended the import of poultry meat 
and egg products from Bulgaria, including those shipped through third countries, based 
on the "Animal Hea lth Requirements for poultry meat etc. to be exported to Japan from 
Republic of Bulgaria", and the Article 37 and 44 of "the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious 
Disease Control" since 20 February 2020. Poultry meat products derived from animals 
slaughtered o n and after 22 January 2020 and poultry egg products derived from eggs 
laid on and after 22 January 2020 are not eligible to be exported to Japan, taking into 
consideration the incubation period of the HPAI virus stipulated in the OIE Terrestrial 
Animal He alth 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 
H5N8 HPAI was confirmed in a duck farm in Plovdiv on 17 February 2020.  
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 avian 
influenza virus"  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/JPN/727  
 
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  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 
"Animal Health Requirements for poultry meat etc. to be exported to Japan from 
Republic  of Bulgaria"  
https://www.maff.go.jp /aqs/hou/require/attach/pdf/chicken -meet-81.pdf  (available in 
English and Japanese)  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
20 February 2020  
[ ] 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 Forei gn 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  
International Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
Fax: +(8131) 5501 8343  
E-mail:enquiry@mofa.go.jp