. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/JPN/204 
14 January 2008  
 (08-0141) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  JAPAN
  
If applicable, name of local government involved:     
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numb er(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  (i) tin for plating that co mes into contact with food (HS Code 8007), (ii) metals 
used for manufacture or repair of the equi pment or containers/packages (HS Codes 7310, 
7323, 7418, 7612, 7615, 7907, 8007, 8215), (iii) solder  used for manufacture or repair of the 
equipment or containers/packages (HS Code  8007), and (iv) cupper or copper-alloy 
equipment and containers/packages (HS Code 7418) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable :  All 
countries 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Revision of general 
specifications for equipment, containers/packages and their materials, and revision of 
manufacturing standards for equipment and c ontainers/packages (available in English, 
3 pages) 
6. Description of content:  (a) lower the maximum limits for the content of lead in (i) tin for 
plating that comes into contact with food, (ii) metals and (iii) solder used for manufacture or 
repair of the equipment or containers/packages ; (b) modify the scope of cupper or copper-
alloy equipment and containers/packages which are exempted from metal-plating, such as tin-plating, required by the st andards for manufacturing  
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. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:    
9. Relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:   Specifications and 
Standards for Foods, Food Additives, etc. (The Ministry of Health and Welfare 
Announcement No.370, 1959).  When adopted, the amendment will appear in the Official 
Government Gazette, " KAMPO " (available in Japanese). G/SPS/N/JPN/204 
Page 2  
 
  10. Proposed date of adoption:  End of April 2008 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Six months after promulgation of the revised standards 
and specifications 
12. Final date for comments:  60 days from date  of circulation 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or  address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body: 
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notifica tion authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: