G/SPS/N/JPN/614  
 
6 February 2019  
(19-0665) Page: 1/3 
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):  
 Meat and edible meat offal (HS Codes: 02.01, 02.02, 02.03, 02.04, 02.05, 02.06 and 
02.08) 
 Dairy produce (HS  Code: 04.01)  
 Animal originated products (HS  Code: 05.04)  
 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers (HS  Codes: 07.01, 07.02, 07.03, 
07.04, 07.05, 07.06, 07.07, 07.08, 07.09, 07.10, 07.13 and 07.14)  
 Edible fruit and nuts, peel of citrus fruit or melons (HS  Codes: 08.01, 08.02, 08.03, 
08.04, 08.05, 08.06, 08.07, 08.08, 08.09, 08.10, 08.11 and 08.14)  
 Coffee, mate and spices (HS  Codes: 09.01, 09.03, 09.04, 09.05, 09.06, 09.07, 09.08, 
09.09 and 09.10)  
 Cereals (HS  Code: 10.05)  
 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit (HS  Codes: 
12.01, 12.07, 12.10 and 12.12)  
 Animal fats and oils (HS  Codes: 15.01, 15.02 and 15.06)  
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: Revision of the Standards and Specifications for Foods 
and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act (revision of agricultural chemical residue 
standards) . Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 4 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/SPS/JPN/19_0687_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the following 
agricultural chemical:  
Pesticide: Spirotetramat.  
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:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : Pesticide Residues in Food and feed - Pesticide Index 
- 234 - Spirotetramat  G/SPS/N/JPN/614  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] 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?  
[ ] Yes   [X] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
Water melon, Melons and Makuwauri melon (Fruiting vegetables, Cucurbits)  
The portion of commodities to w hich MRLs apply and which are analyzed are different 
from that of Codex for some commodities such as water melon, melons and makuwauri 
melon. The portion of those commodities to which is analyzed in Japan is "edible portions 
after removal of inedible peel" , while that of Codex is "whole commodity after removal of 
stems". As such, Japan proposes MRLs in water melon, melons (0.1 ppm) and makuwauri 
melon (0.03 ppm) based on the residue data from supervised trials which were conducted 
according to the GAPs in J apan and the USA, instead of Codex MRL.  
Unshu orange (pulp) (Citrus fruits)  
The portion of commodities to which MRLs apply and which are analyzed are different 
from that of Codex for some commodities such as unshu orange (pulp). The portion of 
the commodit y to which is analyzed in Japan is "with the peels removed", while that of 
Codex is "whole commodity". As such, Japan proposes MRL in unshu orange (pulp) (0.4 
ppm) based on the residue data from supervised trials which were conducted according 
to the GAPs in Austraria, instead of Codex MRL.  
Kiwifruit  
The portion of commodities to which MRLs apply and which are analyzed are different 
from that of Codex for some commodities such as kiwifruit. The portion of the commodity 
to which is analyzed in Japan is "whol e commodity after removal of skins", while that of 
Codex is "whole commodity". As such, Japan doesn't set MRL in kiwifruit because 
information necessary for setting MRLs (i.e. the use of this pesticide and residue trial data 
for such commodities) is not av ailable.  
Peach (Stone fruits)  
The portion of commodities to which MRLs apply and which are analyzed are different 
from that of Codex for some commodities such as peach. The portion of the commodity 
to which is analyzed in Japan is "whole commodity after re moval of skins and stones", 
while that of Codex is "whole commodity after removal of stems and stones". As such, 
Japan proposes MRL in peach (1 ppm) estimated by using processing factor (residue 
concentration ratio of pulp to whole: 0.37) based on the Code x MRL in peach.  
Dried grape  
The MRL of 5 ppm in grape has been set on the basis of the residue data from supervised 
trials which were conducted according to the GAPs in Japan. MRLs  in raw agricultural 
commodities apply to their processed commodities (including dried grape) taking into 
account the processing factors (the JMPR estimated the processing factor of 2.6 for dried 
grape). Therefore, Japan decided not to set MRL in dried gra pe. 
Dried pepper  
The MRL of 10 ppm in other solanaceous vegetables has been set on the basis of the 
residue data from supervised trials which were conducted according to the GAPs in Japan. 
MRLs in raw agricultural commodities apply to their processed commodities (including 
dried pepper) taking into account the processing factors (the JMPR estimated the 
processing factor of 7 for dried pepper). Therefore, Japan decided not to set MRL in dried 
pepper. 
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 
Food Sanitation Act (available in English). When adopted, these MRLs are to be published 
in Kampo (Official Government Gazette) (available in Japanese).   G/SPS/N/JPN/614  
 
- 3 - 
 
  10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible after the final date for 
the comment period.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible after the final date 
for the comment period.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date  of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : These proposed standards will take effect after a certain period 
of grace.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 7 April 2019 . Comments only to updated MRLs 
(marked with black circles and white circles in attached annexes).  
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