G/SPS/N/JPN/754  
 
20 April 2020  
(20-3107) 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 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):  Animal products and other items  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  The amendment of the Act on Domestic Animal 
Infectious Diseases Control . Language(s):  . Number of pages:   
6. Description of content:  In order to strengthen legal authority of animal quarantine 
officers and heighten the penalty for violation against the provisions of import and export 
quarantine, the MAFF amended the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control 
as follows;  
1. Authori ze animal quarantine officers to conduct interviews to passengers of 
embarkation/disembarkation and to inspect their baggage for animal products and 
other items.  
2. Authorize animal quarantine officers to dispose of illegal animal products and other 
items upo n finding during the inspection.  
3. Raise the fines for violation against the provisions of import and export quarantine 
such as bringing illegal animal products in Japan: in case of an individual, from "up 
to 1,000,000 yen to up to 3,000,000 yen, " and in cas e of a corporate body, from "up 
to 1,000,000 yen to up to 50,000,000 yen ". 
4. Establish new fines of ‘up to 300,000 yen' for violation with respect to 1 and 2 above.  
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. 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) :  
[ ] 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  G/SPS/N/JPN/754  
 
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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:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
These  amendments are to be publicised in Animal Quarantine Office web page.  
https://www.maff.go.jp/j/syouan/douei/eisei/e_koutei/kaisei_kadenhou/index.html   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 27 March 2020  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 3 April 2020  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date  of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Date specified by Cabinet Order not exceeding three months.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable.  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if av ailable) 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   
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