G/SPS/N/JPN/552  
 
17 January 2018  
(18-0467) 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 and food additives, utensils, containers and packaging for food 
and food additives  
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: Amendment to the Food Sanitation Act . Language(s): 
English .  Number of pages: 4 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/JPN/18_0425_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: The main items in the amendment of the Food Sanitation Act are 
as follows:  
a) Strengthening measures taken by national and local governments for interregional 
food poisoning cases . 
b) Requirement of food hygiene control based on HACCP principles . 
c) Establishment of an adverse event reporting system for foods containing the 
designated substances . 
d) Improvement of sanitary regulations for utensils, containers and packaging for food 
and food additives considering international consistency . 
e) Revision of licensing system and establishment of notification system for food 
businesses . 
f) Establishment of a reporting system for food recalls . 
g) Ensuring safety of imported foods and Legalizing administration related to food 
export . 
h) Others (required provisions such as penal provisions) . 
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal he alth, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  G/SPS/N/JPN/552  
 
- 2 - 
 
  8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
(b) in item 6: CXC -1-1969 
(g) in item 6: CXG -38-2001 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International 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:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: When 
adopted, this amendment will be published in KAMPO,  the official Japanese Governmental 
Gazette.  (available in Japanese)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : April - July 2018  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : April – July 2018  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : In principle, date to be specified by Cabinet Orders within a period not 
exceeding two years cou nting from the day of promulgation.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 18 March 2018  
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:  
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