G/SPS/N/JPN/773  
 
21 August 2020  
(20-5699) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  JAPAN  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)  
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):  Poultry meat and egg produ cts 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Australia, and countries, regions or zones 
approved as free from HPAI and LPAI by Japan  
https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/news/third -free.html   
5. Title of the notified document:  Import suspension of live poultry, poultry meat and 
egg products from Australia . Language(s): . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content:  In order to prevent the introduction of H7N7 Highly pathogenic 
avian influenza (HPAI) virus into Japan, MAFF has suspended the import of live poultry, 
poultry meat and egg products from Australia, including those shipped through third 
countries, on 3 August 2020 based on the "Animal Health Requirements for poultry meat 
to be exported to Japan from Australia"  and the Article 37 and 44 of the "Act on Domestic 
Animal Infectious Disease Control".  
Poultry meat products derived from animals slaughtered on and after 3 August 2020 and 
poultry egg products derived from eggs laid on and after 3 August 2020 are not eligible 
to be exported to Japan, taking into consideration the incubation period of the HPAI virus 
stipulated in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect hum ans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  On 31 July 2020, 
an outbreak of H7N7 HPAI was confirmed in a commercial layer poultry in the Lethb ridge, 
Victoria.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrest rial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Chapter 10.4. "Infection with avian 
influenza viruses"  G/SPS/N/JPN/773  
 
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  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Current 
"Animal Health Requirements for poultry meat to be exported to Japan from Australia"  
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/hou/require/attach/pdf/chicken -meet-34.pdf (Available in 
English and Japanese)   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
3 August 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Author ity, [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 31) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp   
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  
Internationa l Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
Fax: +(81 31) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp