Summary of Law for Ensuring theSafety of Pet Food

April 2014
Animal Products Safety Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Japan

1. Law for Ensuring the Safety of Pet Food: Summary
1. Purpose of Law
This law aims to ensure the safety of
pet food by providing regulations
regarding the manufacturing, etc.. ofpet food, thus safeguarding the healthof pets and contributing to theprotection of animals.

Ingredients importedfrom overseas(corn, wheat, etc.)

Products imported from overseas(dry, canned, retort pouch, etc.)
Oversight System

Government Regulations
Establish standards on
methods of pet food
manufacturing andspecifications for pet foodconstituents

Importers (warehouses, etc.)(Responsibility to notify, keep records)
Ingredients from Japan(meat, fish, etc.)

Government conducts:•Collection of reports•On-the-spot inspections=

2. Focus of Laws and Regulations
Pet food for dogs and cats

Overview of the Law for Ensuring the Safety of Pet Food

• Prohibition ofmanufacture, import
and/or sale of productsthat violate standards
and/or specifications• Prohibition ofmanufacture, etc., of pet
food containing harmful
substances• Order the destruction ofpet food containing
harmful substances

3. Regulations for Ensuring Safety• The Government of Japanestablishes standards andspecifications; prohibits themanufacture, import and sale of pet
food and other products that do notmeet these standards or specifications;prohibits the manufacture, import
and/or sale of pet food that contains
harmful substances and other articles and/or orders thedestruction of said pet food when deemed necessary toprevent damage to the health of pets.

• Notification by manufacturers and importers, record keeping,collection of reports, on-the-spot inspections, etc.

Manufacturers (pet food factories, etc.)(Responsibility to notify, keep records)
Products made in Japan(dry, canned, retort pouch, etc.)

Sellers (home improvement centers, etc.)(Responsible for keeping records[with the exception of retailers])

Safe Pet Food

On-the-spot inspections
conducted by Food andAgricultural Materials
Inspection Center(FAMIC)2. Joint Council based on the Pet Food Safety Law
Central Environmental Council

Agricultural Materials Council

Committee on Animal
ProtectionJoint Council
Pet Food Subcommittee(11 members)

Feed Safety committee(14 members)

The Government of Japan is required totake into consideration the opinions of theJoint Council when establishing standards
and specifications in accordance with thePet Food Safety Law.

Subcommittee on Pet Food (6 members)
Committee made up of experts to provide
technical expertise regarding theestablishment of standards, specifications,etc. (developing drafts)

3. Government and Ministerial Ordinances Pursuant to
the Pet Food Safety Law

Government Ordinances Pursuant to Pet Food Safety Law(Main Point) Identify dogs and cats as the “pets” described in the law
Ministerial Ordinance (Rules of enforcement)(Main Points)
 Procedures and forms for notification by manufacturers and importers Items subject to required record keeping for relevant parties
Ministerial Ordinance (Standards and Specifications of Pet Food)(Main Points)
 Standards on the methods of manufacturing required to ensure pet foodsafety
 Specifications for ingredients (establishes maximum levels for harmful
substances) Standards for labeling