G/SPS/N/JPN/323  
 
9 October 2013  
(13-5502)  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): Waters (HS Code: 22.01) 
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 Law  Language(s): English  Number of 
pages: 5 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2013/sps/JPN/13_4028_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: The category "mineral waters" is to be divided into two 
categories: "mineral waters (non-sterilized or non-filter sterilized)" and "mineral waters 
(sterilized or filter sterilized)". For each category, compositional specifications for source 
water will be newly established. 
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:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) CODEX STAN 108-1981 
[ ] 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: Certain specifications do not match completely the Codex 
standard because there is a part that conforms to water quality standards based on the Waterworks Act of Japan. G/SPS/N/JPN/323 
 
- 2 - 
 
  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 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) : 8 December 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