G/SPS/N/JPN/447  
 
18 February 2016  
(16-1016)  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; IC S 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, birds' eggs and natural honey (HS Codes: 04.01, 04.07 and 04.08) 
 Products of animal origin (HS Code: 05.04) 
 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers (HS Codes: 07.09, 07.10 and 07.13) 
 Edible fruits and nuts, peel of  citrus/melons (HS Code: 08.14) 
 Coffee, tea, mate and spices (HS Codes: 09.04, 09.05, 09.06, 09.07, 09.08, 09.09 
and 09.10) 
 Cereals (HS Codes: 10.01, 10.02, 10.03, 10.04, 10.05, 10.07 and 10.08) 
 Oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits (HS Codes: 12.01, 12.02, 
12.04, 12.05, 12.07 and 12.12) 
 Animal or vegetable 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: 2 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/JPN/16_0683_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Proposed maximum residue limi ts (MRLs) for the following 
agricultural chemical: Pesticide: Thifensulfuron. 
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  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
standard or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    G/SPS/N/JPN/447 
 
- 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: 
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 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) : 18 April 2016. Comments only to updated MRLs 
(marked with black circles in attached annexes). 
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. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notifi cation 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