G/SPS/N/JPN/598  
 
10 September 2018  
(18-5579) 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);  
 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS Codes: 03.02, 
03.03 and 03.04);  
 Dairy produce and birds' eggs (HS Codes: 04.01, 04.07 and 04.08);  
 Products of animal origin (HS Code: 05.04);  
 Edible vegetables and certa in 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, 07.13 and 07.14);  
 Edible fruits and nuts, peel of citrus/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, 09.08, 09.09 and 09.10);  
 Cereals (HS Codes: 10.01, 10.02, 10.03, 10.04, 10.05, 10.06, 10.07 and 10.08);  
 Oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds and frui ts (HS Codes: 12.01, 12.02, 
12.04, 12.05, 12.06, 12.07, 12.10 and 12.12);  
 Animal or vegetable fats and oils (HS Codes: 15.01, 15.02 and 15.06);  
 Cocoa and cocoa preparations (HS Code: 18.01).  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent rel evant 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: 5 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/JPN/18_4800_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the following 
agricultural chemical  
Pesticide/Veterinary drug: Diflubenzuron  
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.  G/SPS/N/JPN/598  
 
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  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/Veterinary drug Residues in Food and feed - Pesticide/Veterinary drug 
Index - 130 - Diflubenzuron  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Pr otection 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:  
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 "w hole 
commodity". As such, Japan has decided to delete the current MRL in rice (brown rice) 
because information necessary for setting MRLs (i.e. the use of this pesticide and residue 
trial data for such commodities) is not available, and the uniform limit ( 0.01 ppm) will be 
applied to rice (brown rice). This limit accords with Codex MRL in rice (brown rice).  
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 has 
decided to delete the current MRL in loqu at because information necessary for setting 
MRLs (i.e. the use of this pesticide and residue trial data for such commodities) is not 
available, and the uniform limit (0.01 ppm) will be applied to loquat.  
Peach  
The portion of commodities to which MRLs appl y 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 stones", while that of 
Codex is "whole commodity after r emoval of stems and stones". As such, Japan proposes 
MRL in peach (0.1 ppm) based on residue data from supervised trials which were 
conducted according to the Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in Japan, instead of Codex 
MRL. 
Dried pepper  
The MRL of 3 ppm in other solanaceous vegetables has been set on the basis of the Codex 
MRL. MRLs in raw agricultural commodities apply to their processed commodities (including 
dried pepper) taking into account the processing factors (the JMPR estimated the 
processing fac tor of 7 for dried pepper). Therefore, Japan decided not to set MRL in dried 
pepper.  
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.  G/SPS/N/JPN/598  
 
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  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) : 9 November 2018 . 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