G/SPS/N/JPN/698  
 
5 December 2019  
(19-8378) 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):  Alcoholic beverages (HS Codes: 22.03, 22.04, 22.05, 22.06 and 
22.08)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practic able: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Revision of the regulatory limit for methanol in alcoholic 
beverages . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/SPS/JPN/19_6933_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The regulatory limit for methanol in alcoholic beverages 
intende d for direct consumption is revised as described in the attached document.  
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 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  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international st andard?  
[ ] 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:  
Food Sanitation Act. When adopted, this amendment will be pub lished in official 
notification  (available in Japanese) . G/SPS/N/JPN/698  
 
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  10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible after publication.  
[X] 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 desig nated 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 3) 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 3) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp