G/LIC/N/2/JPN/4  
 
17 April 2018 
(18-2367) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 5 .1 TO 5.4  OF THE AGREEMENT1 
JAPAN 
 
The following notification, dated 13 April 2018  is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Japan . 
 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  Japan  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  Designation of specified mercury and mercury -added products as 
the products subject to import licensing procedures under the 
Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act  
3 Date of Publication  
  31/07/2015   
4 Date of entry into force  
  26/08/2017  
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  - Kampo (Official Government Gazette), METI Official Bulletin and 
the International Trade Bulletin dated 6 August, 2015  
Public Announcement on the Places of Shipment of Goods Requiring 
Approval for Import and Other Necessary Matters Concerning 
Import of Goods Relating to the Minamata Convention on Mercury 
(Public Notice No. 159 of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry ) 
- METI Official Bulletin and the International Trade Bulletin dated 11 
November, 2015  
- Concerning Approval of Import of Specified Mercury (Yunyū -
chūijiko – Import Guidance, No. 27 -18) 
- Concerning Approval of Import of Specified Mercury -added 
Products and Products in which Specified Mercury -added Products 
are used as components (Yunyū -chūijiko – Import Guidance, No. 
27-19) 
6 Have you attached a copy of 
the regulation (PDF) to the 
Secretariat  [ X ] Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification. ) 
 
[  ] No. 
7 Type of notification  [ X ] (a) New licensing regulation/procedure; (please answer 
question 8 to 14)  
 
[   ] (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been 
previously notified in document: ___________ ;  ( please answer 
question 15 and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject to 
licensing  Please see the table in the last page.  
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic:  [     ]  
 
Non-Automatic:  [ X ]  
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life or health;  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  G/LIC/N/2/JPN/4  
 
- 2 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CIETS, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other:  
11 Administrative body(ies) for  
submission of applications   
 Ministry/authority and Department: Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry (METI)  
Trade Control Policy Division, Trade and Economic Cooperation 
Bureau  
Address:  1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda -ku, Tokyo  
Website: 
http://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/external_economy/trade_cont
rol/index.html  
Telepho ne: + 81 -(0)3-3501-0538 
12 Contact point for 
information on eligibility  Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)  
Trade Control Policy Division, Trade and Economic Cooperation 
Bureau  
Address:  1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda -ku, Tokyo  
Website: 
http://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/external_economy/trade_cont
rol/index.html  
Telephone: + 81 -(0)3-3501-0538  
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure  ongoing  
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages   To adopt import licensing procedures for specified mercury and 
mercury -added products to ensure the implementation of the 
Minamata  Convention on Mercury (adopted in October, 2013) aimed 
to protect the human health and the environment from 
anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury 
compounds.  
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other: __________ (please specify).  
 
 G/LIC/N/2/JPN/4  
 
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   Category  Notification details  
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one of 
the official WTO languages)  Please see the table on the next page.  
 
 
 
 G/LIC/N/2/JPN/4  
 
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  Table 1: List of products subject to licensing procedures:  
 
Items  Date of Entry  
 Mercury (including mixtures of mercury with other 
substances, including alloys of mercury, with a mercury 
concentration of at least 95 per cent by weight)  From Non -
Parties  The date when the 
Minamata  
Convention on 
Mercury enters into 
force in Japan  
The following specified mercury -added products and  products in 
which the following specified mercury -added products are used as 
components:  
   
 Batteries ( excluding  the following):  
- Button zinc silver oxide batteries (Button cells with a 
mercury content less than 1% by weight)  
 
- Button zinc air batteries (Button cells with a mercury 
content less than 2% by weight)  
  1/1/2018  
31/12/2020( button 
alkali batteries)  
- Switches and relays   31/12/2020  
- Single -ended compact fluorescent lamps and self -
ballasted fluorescent lamps for general lighting 
purposes that are less than or equal to 30 watts of 
rated power consumption with a mercury content 
exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner   1/1/2018  
 
 The followings, among linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) for 
general lighting purposes:  
- Products that are less than 60 watts of rated power 
consumption with a mercury content exceeding 5 mg 
per lamp, using triband phosphor  
- Products that are equal to or less than 40 watts  of 
rated power consumption with a mercury content 
exceeding 10 mg per lamp, using halophosphate 
phosphor  
  1/1/2018  
High pressure mercury vapour lamps (HPMV) for general lighting 
purposes   31/12/2020  
The following cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode 
fluorescent lamps (CCFL and EEFL) for electronic displays:   1/1/2018  
 Products whose length is equal to or shorter than 500 mm 
with a mercury content exceeding 3.5 mg per lamp  
 Products whose length is longer than 500 mm and equal to 
or shorter than 1500 mm with a mercury content 
exceeding 5 mg per lamp  
 Products whose length is longer than 1500 mm with a 
mercury content exceeding 13 mg per lamp    
Cosmetics   1/1/2018  
Pesticides, biocides  and topical antiseptics   1/1/2018  
31/12/2020(topical 
antiseptics)  
The following non -electronic measuring devices except non -
electronic measuring devices used for high precision measurement, 
where no suitable mercury -free alternative is available:  
(a) ba rometers;  
(b) hygrometers;  
(c) manometers;  
(d) thermometers;  
(e) sphygmomanometers    
 
__________  
 
                                                
1 "Members which institute licensing procedures or changes in these  procedures shall notify the 
Committee of such within 60 days of publication [...]" (Art. 5.1) .