G/SPS/N/JPN/315  
 
14 June 2013  
(13-3082)  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 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable):  
 Fish (HS Codes: 03.02, 03.03) 
 Fish fillets and other fish meat (HS Code: 03.04) 
 Crustaceans, fresh, chilled or frozen (HS Code: 03.06) 
 Molluscs, fresh, chilled or frozen (HS Code: 03.07) 
 Aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans and molluscs, fresh, chilled or frozen 
(HS Code: 03.08) 
 Meat of whales (HS Code: 0208.40) 
 Aseptically processed and packaged low-acid foods 
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: Proposed revision of the Specifications and Standards 
for Foods and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act  Language(s): English   
Number of pages: 1 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2013/sps/JPN/13_2241_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Revising the standards to allow the use of food additives, such 
as disinfectants, that have already been designated as additives during processing of seafood intended to be eaten raw and manufac turing of food packed in containers and 
sterilized by pressurization and heating. 
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 st andard? 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)    G/SPS/N/JPN/315 
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[X] None 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: The 
food Sanitation Act (available in English). When adopted, these specifications and 
standards are to be published in "KAMPO" (Official Government Gazette) (available in 
Japanese). 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible after the final date for 
comment period. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible after the final date 
for 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 as soon as possible 
after the comment period. 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 12 August 2013 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
13. Texts available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Standards Information Service  
International Trade Division 
Economic Affairs Bureau 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8919, Japan 
Tel: +(81) 3 5501 8344 
Fax: +(81) 3 5501 8343  E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp