G/SPS/N/JPN/383
16 December 2014 
(14-7291)  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 
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): "Carrot (Daucus carota L.) seed for sowing" and "carrot 
(Daucus carota L.) and celery (Apium graveolens) seedling" 
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: Emergency measures to reduce the risk of 
introduction of "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" through the importation of carrot (seed and seedling) and celery (seedling)   Language(s):    Number of pages:    
6. Description of content: In order to reduce the risk of introduction of "Candidatus 
Liberibacter solanacearum" into Japan, imports of carrot (seed and seedling) and celery 
(seedling) produced in those countries wher e infection with "Candidatus Liberibacter 
solanacearum" has been reported in carrot or celery (i.e. Finland, France, Norway, Spain (mainland and Canary Islands), Sweden and Morocco) will be subject to the following 
import requirements: 
1. For carrot (Daucus carota L.) seed for sowing:  Each consignment must be accompanied with an official government Phytosanitary 
Certificate stating one of the following additional declarations: 
 - The carrot seed in the consignment was treated with dry heat at a minimum 
temperature of  50ºC for at least  72 continuous hours or with hot water at a minimum temperature of 50ºC for at least 20 continuous minutes; or 
 - The carrot seed in the consignment was tested for Candidatus Liberibacter 
solanacearum and found to be free of the bacterium by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test method on  a sample of 10,000 seeds. 
2. For carrot (Daucus carota L.) and celery (Apium graveolens) seedling: 
 Each consignment must be accompanied with an official government Phytosanitary 
Certificate stating the following additional declaration: 
 - The seedling in the consignment was tested for Candidatus Liberibacter 
solanacearum and found to be free of the bacterium by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test method. 
 In case the consignment does not meet the above-mentioned requirements, PCR 
testing or heat treatment will be conducted at the entry point of Japan. G/SPS/N/JPN/383 
 
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  7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans 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: "Candidatus 
Liberibacter solanacearum" has been recently reported as seed-transmitted pest in 
carrot. Carrot and celery have also been identified as natural hosts of the bacterium.  
Imports of carrot (seed for sowing and seedling) and celery (seedling) produced in those countries where "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" has been reported to occur in 
carrot or celery (i.e. Finland, France, Norway, Spain (mainland and Canary Islands), 
Sweden and Morocco) provide a potential pathway for the introduction of the bacterium into Japan.  Therefore, emergency measures are required to reduce the risk of introduction of "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" into Japan through carrot (seed 
and seedling) and celery (seedling) by either heat treatment or PCR testing.  
9. Is there a relevant international stan dard? 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)   
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number) IPPC 
Article 7 and IPSM 1 
[ ] 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 langua ge(s) in which these are available:      
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
1 February 2015 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. 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:  
Standards Information Service  
International Trade Division, Economic Affairs Bureau 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
2-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8919, Japan Tel: +(81 3) 5501 8344 
Fax: +(81 3) 5501 8343 
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp 
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Noti fication Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if availabl e) of other body: