G/SPS/N/JPN/441  
 
15 February 2016  
(16-0962)  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):  
 Fish (HS Codes: 03.02, 03.03) 
 Fish fillets and other fish meat (HS Code: 03.04) 
 Crustaceans, fresh, chilled or frozen (HS Code: 03.06) 
 Molluscs, fresh, chilled or frozen (HS Code: 03.07) 
 Aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans and molluscs, fresh, chilled or frozen 
(HS Code: 03.08) 
 Meat of whales (HS Code: 0208.40) 
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 Specifications and Standards for Foods 
and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act  Language(s): English  Number of 
pages: 1 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/JPN/16_0615_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Revising the standards to allow the use of carbon dioxide as a 
pH regulator for sodium hypochlorite used as a disinfectant, during processing of fresh 
fish and shellfish to be eaten raw, oyst ers to be eaten raw, and frozen foods. 
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)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[X] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[ ] Yes   [ ] No G/SPS/N/JPN/441 
 
- 2 - 
 
  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 and Standards for Food, Food Additives, etc. When adopted, these 
revisions are to be published in "Kampo" (Official Government Gazette) (available in 
Japanese). 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : As soon as possible after publication. 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable 
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