G/SPS/N/JPN/541  
 
11 December 2017  
(17-6788) 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; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable): Mineral water (HS Code: 22.01), beverages (HS Code: 22.02)  
4. Regions or countries li kely 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 Standards and Specifications for Foods 
and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act . Language(s): English.  Number of 
pages: 2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/JPN/17_5416_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Japan  will put in place new standards of Arsenic, Boron, 
Manganese, Antimony and Nitrite -nitrogen for natural or sterilized mineral water.  
Additionally, Japan will deregulate standards for manufacturing standards of Iron and 
hardness (Calcium, Magnesium) for be verages.  
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 standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : CODEX STAN 108 -1981 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number ):  
[ ] International Plant Protection 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 
internation al standard: Certain specifications do not match completely the Codex 
standard because there is a part that conforms to water quality standards based on the 
Waterworks Act of Japan.  G/SPS/N/JPN/541  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 
Food Sanitation Act (available in English). When adopted, this amendment will be 
published in Kampo,  the official Japanese Governmental Gazette  (available in Japanese) . 
10. Proposed da te 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.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months fro m date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : This proposed standard 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 February 2018  
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