G/SPS/N/JPN/1172  
 
30 January 2023  
(23-0673) 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 the Environment  
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):  Biological pesticides used for the control  
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:  Draft Ministerial Order Establishing Cases Defined by 
Ministerial Order of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of 
the Environment under Article 4, Paragrap h (1), Item (xi) of the Agricultural Chemicals 
Regulation Act . Language(s):  . Number of pages:   
6. Description of content:  Establishment of new criteria for refusal of registration for 
biological pesticides  
Biological pesticides are (1) so -called "natural insect killer pesticides" (in the narrow 
definition), which are generally used with live insects that are predators or parasites (e.g., 
Insecta, Arachnid, etc.) and (2) microbial pesticides (viruses, bacteri a, fungi, etc.), which 
may be used as pesticides, as Article 2, paragraph 2 of the Act provides that "predators, 
parasites or microorganisms used for pest control as described in the preceding paragraph 
shall be deemed to be pesticides."  
Biological pestici des are assumed that the use of alive biological pesticides (i.e., not 
inactivated) may cause significant damages to the habitat or growth of animals and plants 
in the living environment due to their proliferation, etc (For example, when spiders are 
used a s biological pesticides in agricultural lands, the pesticides may cause significant 
damages to the habitat or growth of animals and plants in the agricultural lands and 
surrounding environment by preying beneficial insects in addition to target insects).  
The criteria for refusal of registration were newly established so that the registration of 
such biological pesticides can be refused where an application for registration is submitted.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X]  protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial  number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  G/SPS/N/JPN/1172  
 
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  [ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
These  amendments are to be publicised in "KAMPO" (Official Government Gazette) when 
adopted (available in Japanese).  
These draft amendments are also notified under the TBT Agreement.  
Agricultural Chemicals Regulation Act is available from the UR L: 
https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/ja/laws/view/3507 . 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 April 2023  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 1 October 2023  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 1 October 2023  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy ): 31 March 2023  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
International Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
Fax: +(81 3) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
International Trade Division  
Economic Affairs Bureau  
Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
Fax: +(81 3) 5501 8343  
E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp