G/SPS/N/JPN/577  
 
24 May 2018  
(18-3079) Page: 1/3 
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):  
 Meat and edible meat offal (HS  Codes : 02.01, 02.02, 02.03, 02.04, 02.05, 02.06, 
02.07 , 02.08 and 02.09);  
 Dairy produce, birds  eggs and natural honey (HS  Codes : 04.01, 04.07 and 04.08);  
 Products of animal origin (HS  Codes : 05.04);  
 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers (HS  Codes : 07.01, 07.02, 07.03, 07.04, 
07.05, 07.06, 07.07, 07.0 8, 07.09, 07.10, 07.13 and 07.14);  
 Edible fruits and nuts, peel of citrus/melons (HS  Codes : 08.01, 08.02, 08.03, 08.04, 
08.05, 08.06, 08.07, 08.08, 08.09, 08.10, 08.11 and 08.14);  
 Coffee, tea, mate and spices (HS  Codes : 09.02, 09.03, 09.04, 09.05, 09.06, 09.07, 
09.08, 09.09 and 09.10);  
 Cereals (HS  Codes : 10.01, 10.02, 10.03, 10.04, 10.05, 10.06, 10.07 and 10.08);  
 Oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits (HS  Codes : 12.01, 12.02, 
12.04, 12.05, 12.06, 12.07, 12.10 and 12.12);  
 Animal or vegeta ble fats and oils (HS  Codes : 15.01, 15.02 and 15.06).  
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 Standards and Specifications for Foods 
and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act (revision of agricultural chemical residue 
standards) . Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 6 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/JPN/18_2590_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content:  
Proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the following agricultural chemical . 
Pesticide: Methamidophos  
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.  G/SPS/N/JPN/577  
 
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  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) : Pesticide Residues in Food and feed – Pesticide Index 
–100– Methamidophos  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Cod e, 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 
international standard:  
Rice and milk  
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (MHLW) conducted dietary exposure 
assessment for Methamidophos on the basis of national consumpt ion data. The dietary 
exposure to Methamidophos estimated by using the STMR of the supervised residue trials 
submitted to the JMPR and national food consumption data of these commodities would 
exceed an ADI of 0.00056 mg/kg bw/day which was set by the Food  Safety Commission of 
Japan. Therefore Japan proposes deletion of the MRL in rice and milk since Methamidophos 
is not permitted for use in  rice and milk in Japan and there are no supporting date 
submitted.  
Other vegetables  
MHLW conducted dietary exposure a ssessment for Methamidophos on the basis of national 
consumption data. If highest residue (HR) values specified in the JMPR report are used in 
the calculation, the estimated short -term dietary intake for other vegetables may exceed 
an ARfD of 0.003mg/kg bo dyweight which was established by the Food Safety Commission 
of Japan. Therefore Japan proposes the draft MRL for other vegetables based on the 
supervised residue trials for such plants which were conducted according to the Good 
Agricultural Practices (GAP s) in Japan.  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: Food 
Sanitation Act ( available in English). When adopted, these MRLs are to be published in 
Kampo (Official Government Gazette)  (available in Japanese)  
10. Proposed date 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 from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : These proposed standards 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) : 23 July 2018 . Comments only to updated MRLs 
(marked with black circles and white circles in attached annexes)  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National N otification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:  G/SPS/N/JPN/577  
 
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  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