G/SPS/N/JPN/389
8 January 2015 
(15-0120)  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):  
- Bones unworked, defatted, simply prepared (but not cut to shape), treated with acid 
or degelatinised; powder and waste of these products (HS Code: 05.06). 
- Gelatin of bovine animals (HS Code: 35.03). 
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: Proposed 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/2015/sps/JPN/15_0041_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Proposed standards for use of vertebral column derived from 
cattle raised in countries or regions with the occurrence of bovine spongiform 
encephalopathy (BSE) for manufacturing, processing or preparing foods and 
manufacturing food additives. 
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)   
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)  Chapter 11.4  
[ ] 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:   G/SPS/N/JPN/389 
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: Food 
Sanitation Act (available in English). When adopted, these specifications and standards are to be published in "KAMPO" (Official Go vernment 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