WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO  IP/N/1/JPN/G/1 
19 March 2008 
 (08-1225) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English/ 
 anglais/  inglés 
  
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS AND 
REGULATIONS NOTIFIED UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 
OF THE AGREEMENT 
 
JAPAN 
  The present document reproduces the text
1 of the Standard for Indication in Relation to 
Geographical Indications (which entered into force on 1 May 2006)), as notified by Japan under 
Article 63.2 of the Agreement (see document IP/N/1/JPN/7). 
__________________________________________________________________________________  
Conseil des aspects des droits de propriété 
intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce  
 
PRINCIPALES LOIS ET RÉGLEMENTATIONS CONSACRÉES À LA 
PROPRIÉTÉ INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIÉES AU TITRE 
DE L'ARTICLE 63:2 DE L'ACCORD 
 
JAPON 
 
 Le présent document contient le texte
1 de la Norme relative à l'indication géographique 
(entrée en vigueur le 1er mai 2006), qui a été notifié par le Japon au titre de l'article 63:2 de l'Accord 
(voir le document IP/N/1/JPN/7). __________________________________________________________________________________  Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio  
 
PRINCIPALES LEYES Y REGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS A LA PROPIEDAD 
INTELECTUAL NOTIFICADOS EN VIRTUD DEL PÁRRAFO 2 
DEL ARTÍCULO 63 DEL ACUERDO 
 
JAPÓN 
  En el presente documento se reproduce el texto
1 de la Norma relativa al contenido de las 
indicaciones geográficas (que entró en vigor el 1º de mayo de 2006), que el Japón ha notificado en 
virtud del párrafo 2 del artículo 63 del Acue rdo (véase el documento IP/N/1/JPN/7). 
                                                      
 1 In English only. The text in the original language is available for consultation by interested 
Delegations at the WTO Secretariat./En anglais seulemen t.  Les délégations intéressées peuvent consulter le 
texte dans sa langue d'origine, au Secrétariat de l'OM C./En inglés solamente.  Las delegaciones interesadas 
podrán consultar en la Secretaría de la OMC el texto en su idioma original. IP/N/1/JPN/G/1 
Page 2  
 
(unofficial translation)  
December 28, 1994 
Notification No. 4 
National Tax Agency 
Amended by Notification No. 23, 2005 
Amended by Notification No. 9, 2006 
[Entry Into Force: May 1, 2006] 
 
Standard for Indication in Relation to Geographical Indications 
 
Considering that the standard for indication in  relation to geographical indications has been 
determined as follows in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 86-6 of the Law Concerning Liquor 
Business Associations and Measures for Securing Revenue from Liquor Tax (Law No. 7 of 1953. 
Hereinafter referred to as the “Law”) and that th e standard will entry into force on July 1, 1995, 
notification is hereby issued in accordance with  paragraph 2 of Article 86-6 of the Law.  
 
Standard for Indication in Relation to Geographical Indications  
 
(Definition) 
 1    The following terms shall have the meanings  as defined in each of the paragraphs below: 
 (1)   “Geographical indications” mean indicati ons which identify a liquor listed in the following 
items 2 through 4 as originating in the territory of a Member of the World Trade Organization, or the region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the 
liquor is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. 
 (2)  “Grape wines” mean any grape-based li quor among those fruit wines and sweet fruit wines 
designated in item 13 and 14 of Article 3 of  the Liquor Tax Law (Law No. 6 of 1953). 
 (3)  “Distilled spirits” mean any continuously or sing le distilled shochu, whisky, brandy or spirits as 
set forth in items 9, 10, 15, 16 and 20 of Article 3 of the Liquor Tax Law. 
 (4)  “Sake” means any sake designated in item 7 of Article 3 of the Liquor Tax Law.  (5)  “Use” means any act of a liquor manufacture or liquor distributor as designated below: 
 
     A    An act to display geographical i ndications on the container or packaging of liquor; 
       B   An act to transfer, deliver, or exhibit for transfer or delivery, or import any container or 
packaging of liquor that bears geographical indications; 
 
     C   An act to exhibit or distribute liquo r-related advertisements, pr ice catalogues, or business 
documents that bear geographical indications.  
 
(Protection of geographical indications) 
 2(1)  Any geographical indications that indicate the place of origin of grape wines or distilled spirits 
in Japan designated by the commissioner of the National Tax Agency or any geographical indications that indicate the place of origin of grape wines or  distilled spirits in a Member of the World Trade 
Organization, the use of which is prohibited in that  Member with regard to grape wines or distilled 
spirits produced in areas other than those indicated, sh all not be used with regard to any grape wines 
or distilled spirits produced in areas other than those indicated.  IP/N/1/JPN/G/1 
 Page 3 
 
 
 (2)  Any geographical indications that indicate the place of origin of sake designated by the commissioner of the National Tax Agency shall not be  used with regard to any sake produced in areas 
other than those indicated.  
(3)  The foregoing provisions shall also apply even  where the true origin of the grape wines or 
distilled spirits is indicated or the geographical in dication is used in translation or accompanied by 
expressions such as “kind,” “type,” “style,” “imitation” or the like.  
(Exception of application) 
 
3    The foregoing provisions shall not apply to the following cases:  (1)   In cases where a particular geographical i ndication of another Member of the World Trade 
Organization identifying grape wines or distilled spir its has been used in a continuous manner with 
regard to grape wines or distilled spirits in the terr itory of that Member either for at least ten (10) 
years preceding April 15, 1994 or in good faith preceding that date;  (2)   In cases where a geographical indication is not or  cease to be protected in its country of origin, or 
which has fallen into disuse in that country.  
(Appendix) (Notification No.23, 2005)  
 This notification shall be entry into force on October 1, 2005. 
 
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