G/SPS/N/JPN/360  
 
15 August 2014  
(14-4746)  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:  Consumer Affairs Agency 
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): Fermented milk (HS Code: 04.03), natural cheeses 
(HS Code: 04.06) 
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: Revisions of the Cabinet Office Ordinance under the 
Food Sanitation Act (Amendments of the labelling standard for milk products)  
Language(s):  English  Number of pages: 1 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2014/sps/JPN/14_3708_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Amendment of labelling standards for milk products (natural 
cheeses (soft and semi-hard), fermented milk and fermented milk drink) in order to 
determine which standard apply to each milk product. 
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)    
[ ] 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 basic law is the Food Sanitation Act (available in English). When adopted, the proposed revisions are to be published in "KAMPO" (Official Government Gazette) (available in Japanese only). G/SPS/N/JPN/360 
 
- 2 - 
 
  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 basically 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) : 14 October 2014 
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:  
Japan Enquiry Point 
International Trade Division 
Economic Affairs Bureau Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
Fax: +(81 3) 5501 8343 
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp 
13. Texts available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body: