G/SPS/N/JPN/611  
 
6 February 2019  
(19-0662) 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, 
02.07 , 02.08 and 02.09)  
 Dairy produce and birds' eggs (HS  Codes: 04.01, 04.07 and 04.08)  
 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  and 07.13)  
 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, tea, mate and spices (HS  Codes: 09.01, 09.02, 09.03, 09.04, 09.05, 09.06, 
09.07, 0 9.08, 09.09 and 09.10)  
 Cereals (HS  Codes: 10.01, 10.03, 10.05 and 10.06)  
 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit (HS  Codes: 
12.01, 12.02, 12.04, 12.05, 12.06, 12.07 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 F ood 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_0684_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the following 
agricultural chemical:  
Pesticide: Difenoconazole.  
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 
- 224 - Difenoconazole  G/SPS/N/JPN/611  
 
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  [ ] 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 s tandard:  
Rice (brown rice)  
The portion of commodities to which MRLs apply and which are analyzed are different 
from that of Codex for some commodities such as rice (brown rice). The portion of the 
commodity to which is analyzed in Japan is "husked seeds",  while that of Codex is "whole 
commodity". As such, Japan proposes MRL in rice (brown rice) (0.2 ppm) based on the 
residue data from supervised trials which were conducted according to the Good 
Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in Korea, 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 commodity to which is analyzed in Japan is "with  the peels removed", while that of 
Codex is "whole commodity". As such, Japan doesn't set MRL in unshu orange (pulp) 
because information necessary for setting MRLs (i.e. the use of this pesticide and residue 
trial data for such commodities) is not availabl e. 
Melons  
The portion of commodities to which MRLs apply and which are analyzed are different 
from that of Codex for some commodities such as melons. The portion of the commodity 
to which is analyzed in Japan is "edible portions after removal of inedible p eel", while that 
of Codex is "whole commodity after removal of stems". As such, Japan proposes MRL in 
melons (0.05 ppm) based on the residue data from supervised trials which were 
conducted according to the GAPs in Japan, instead of Codex MRL.  
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 removal of skins and st ones", 
while that of Codex is "whole commodity after removal of stems and stones". As such, 
Japan proposes MRL in peach (0.2 ppm) based on the residue data from supervised trials 
which were conducted according to the GAPs in Japan, instead of Codex MRL.  
Apple, Japanese pear, Pear and Quince (Pome fruits)  
Japan maintains MRLs in apple, Japanese pear, pear and quince (0.8 ppm) based on the 
previous Codex MRL (0.8 ppm) set in 2014 because the current Codex MRL (4 ppm) set 
in 2018 accommodates post -harvest trea tment. Post -harvest use of fungicide needs 
permission in Japan and difenoconazole is not permitted yet.  
Loquat (Pome fruits)  
The portion of commodities to which MRLs apply and which are analyzed  are different 
from that of Codex for some commodities such as loquat. The portion of the commodity 
to which is analyzed in Japan is "whole commodity after removal of stems, skins and 
stones", while that of Codex is "whole commodity after removal of stems" . As such, Japan 
proposes MRL in loquat (0.2 ppm) based on the residue data from supervised trials which 
were conducted according to the GAPs in Japan, instead of Codex MRL.  
Dried grape  
The MRL of 4 ppm in grape has been set on the basis of the residue dat a from supervised 
trials which were conducted according to the GAPs in Canada. MRLs in raw agricultural 
commodities apply to their processed commodities (including dried grape) taking into 
account the processing factors (the JMPR estimated the processing f actor of 2.1 for dried 
grape). Therefore, Japan decided not to set MRL in dried grape.  G/SPS/N/JPN/611  
 
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  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).   
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 th e 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