Note: This is unofficial translation. Only the original Japanese texts
have legal effect and the translation is to be used solely as referencematerial to aid in the understanding of this Law.

(Provisional Translation)

Law for Ensuring the Safety of Pet Food(Law o. 83 of 2008)
Date of promulgation: June 18, 2008
Table of Contents
Chapter I
General Provisions (Articles 1-4)
Chapter II
Regulation of Manufacturing, Etc., of Pet Food (Articles 5-10)
Chapter III
Miscellaneous Provisions (Articles 11-17)
Chapter IV
Penal Provisions (Articles 18-23)
Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I
General Provisions(Objectives)
Article 1
This law aims to ensure the safety of pet food by regulating the manufacturing, etc., of pet
food, thus protecting the health of pets and contributing to animal welfare.
(Definitions)
Article 2
purpose of being a pet.
to pets.

person engaged in the business of selling pet food who is not a manufacturer or animporter.
(Responsibility of operators)

1Article 3
When carrying out business activities, manufacturers, importers, and sellers must be awarethat they bear the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of pet food, and mustendeavor to obtain expertise and technology related to ensuring the safety of pet food, ensure
the safety of pet food raw materials, recall pet food in order to prevent damage to the health ofpets, and take other necessary measures.
(Responsibility of national government)
Article 4
The national government must endeavor to collect, organize, analyze and provide information
concerning the safety of pet food.
Chapter II
Regulation of Manufacturing, Etc., of Pet Food
(Standards and specifications)
Article 51.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of the Environment
may lay down standards for the methods of pet food manufacturing and labeling andspecifications for the constituents of pet food by the Ordinance of Ministry ofAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of the Environment from theperspective of preventing damage to the health of pets caused by the use of pet food.

2.

When the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of theEnvironment consider the establishment, revision, or abolition of the standards andspecifications under the provision of the preceding paragraph, they must hear theopinions of the Agricultural Material Council and the Central Environment Council.

(Prohibition of manufacturing, etc.)
Article 6
When the standards and specifications have been established under the provision of paragraph
1 of the preceding article, no person shall engage in the actions listed below.
i.

The manufacture of pet food by a method that does not meet the relevant standards inorder to supply it for sale (includes supply other than by sale to unspecified or a numberof persons, and supply which is equivalent to this specified by the Ordinance ofMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries ordinance, and Ministry of theEnvironment ordinance, the same applies below.)ii.

The sale of or the import for sale of pet food manufactured by a method that does notmeet the relevant standards.

iii.

The sale of pet food without labeling that meets the relevant standards.

iv.

The sale of, or the manufacture or import for sale of pet food that does not meet therelevant standards.
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(Prohibition on the manufacture, of pet food that contains harmful substances, etc.)
Article 7
1.

2.

When the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of theEnvironment deem it necessary to prevent the health of pets from being damaged by theuse of the pet food listed below, they shall hear the opinions of the Agricultural Material
Council and the Central Environment Council and may prohibit manufacturers,
importers, or sellers from manufacturing, importing, or selling the relevant pet food.
i.

Pet food containing or suspected of containing harmful substances.

ii.

Pet food contaminated or suspected to be contaminated with pathogenic
microorganisms.

When the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of theEnvironment make a prohibition under the provision of the preceding paragraph, it mustbe published in the official gazette.

(Order for destruction, etc.)
Article 8
When a manufacturer, importer, or seller has sold or is storing in order to supply for sale petfood listed below and when the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and theMinister of the Environment deem it particularly necessary to prevent the health of pets being
damaged by the use of the relevant pet food, they may, to the extent necessary to ensure thehealth of pets, order the relevant manufacturer, importer, or seller to destroy or recall therelevant pet food and take other necessary measures.
i.

Pet food specified in item 2 through item 4 of article 6.

ii.

Pet food concerned in the prohibition under the provision of paragraph 1 of thepreceding article.

(Notification by manufacturers, etc.)
Article 91.

A manufacturer or importer of pet food (excludes persons specified under the Ordinanceof Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of the Environment) for
which standards and specifications have been established under the provision ofparagraph 1 of article 5 must, as specified by the Ordinance of Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of the Environment, notify the Minister ofAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of the Environment of the matterslisted below prior to commencing that business.
i.

Name and address (name, name of representative, and address of principal
business office for a corporation)ii.

Name and address of the business premises that manufacture the relevant pet foodfor a manufacturer.

iii.

Address of business premises to sell and to store the relevant pet food.

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iv.

Other matters specified by the Ordinance of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry andFisheries and Ministry of the Environment.

2.

A person who has become a manufacturer or importer specified in the preceding
paragraph due to the establishment of new standards and specifications under theprovision of paragraph 1 of article 5 must, as specified by the Ordinance of Ministry ofAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of the Environment, notify the Ministerof Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of the Environment of thematters listed in each item of the preceding paragraph within thirty (30) days of the datewhen the standards and specifications were established.

3.

An Operator who has given notification under the provisions of the two preceding
must, as specified by the Ordinance of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
and Ministry of the Environment, notify the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry andFisheries and the Minister of the Environment, when there has been a change in thenotified matters within thirty (30) days of the date of the change. The same shall apply
when the business is terminated.

4.

When an operator giving notification transfers all of the business to which thenotification under the provision of paragraph 1 or 2 relates, or when there has been asuccession, merger, or spin off relating to the operator giving notification (limited to thesuccession of the whole of the business to which the notification relates), the person
receiving transfer of the whole of the business, or the successor (when there are two or
more successors, and a successor to the business is selected by unanimous agreement,that person), the surviving corporation after the merger, the corporation established by
the merger, or the corporation succeeding to the whole of the business due to the spin
off shall succeed to the position of the operator giving notification.

5.

An operator who has succeeded to the position of the operator giving notification basedon the provision of the preceding paragraph must, as specified by the Ordinance ofMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of the Environment, notify
the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of the Environmentof the succession, attaching documents that give evidence of that fact, within thirty (30)days of the date of the succession.

(Keeping of books)
Article 101.

A manufacturer or importer of pet food for which standards and specifications havebeen established under the provision of paragraph 1 of article 5 must keep a book, and,as specified by the Ordinance of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries andMinistry of the Environment record the name, volume and other matters specified by
the Ordinance of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of theEnvironment when manufacturing or importing the relevant pet food, and retain thebook.

2.

A manufacturer, importer, or seller of pet food for which standards and specifications
have been established under the provision of paragraph 1 of article 5 must keep a book,and, as specified by the Ordinance of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries orMinistry of the Environment, record the name, volume, name of the other party in the4transfer and other matters specified by the Ordinance of Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of the Environment when transferring the relevant
pet food to a manufacturer, importer, or seller, and retain the book.
Chapter III
Miscellaneous Provisions(Collection of reports)
Article 111.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or the Minister of the Environment
may, to the extent necessary for the enforcement of this law, request the necessary
reports concerning operations from manufacturers, importers, or sellers as well as pet
food freight and warehouse operators.

2.

The ministers listed in each of the items below shall promptly inform the ministers
listed in each of the relevant items of the results after exercising the powers under theprovision of the preceding paragraph alone.
i.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Minister of the Environment(Note: When the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries collects a report
independently, he or she shall inform the Minister of the Environment of the result.)
ii.

Minister of the Environment, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries(Note: When the Minister of the Environment collects a report independently, he or she
shall inform the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of the result.)(On-the-spot inspections, etc.)
Article 12
1.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or the Minister of the Environment
may, to the extent necessary for the enforcement of this law, have their officials enter
the business premises, warehouses, sea vessels, vehicles and other locations concernedwith pet food manufacturing, importing, retail, transport, or storage operations ofmanufacturers, importers, or sellers as well as pet food freight and warehouse operators
to inspect pet food, raw materials, or books and documents concerning operations, andother items, to question the parties concerned, or seize pet food and raw materials to theextent necessary for inspection. Notwithstanding that when pet food and raw materials
are seized, compensation based on the market price must be paid.

documents showing their identity and present such documents to the parties concerned.
3.

The authority of an on-the-spot inspection, etc., under the provision of paragraph 1 shallnot be construed as approval for a criminal investigation.

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4.

5.

The minister listed in each of the items below shall promptly inform the minister listed
in each of the relevant items of the results after exercising the authority under theprovision of paragraph 1 alone.
i.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Minister of the Environmentii.

Minister of the Environment, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

When the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or the Minister of theEnvironment have had pet food or raw materials seized under the provision ofparagraph 1, a summary of the results of the inspection of the relevant pet food or raw
materials must be published.

(On-the-spot inspection, etc., by FAMIC)
Article 13
1.

When deemed necessary in the case of paragraph 1 of the preceding article, the Ministerof Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries may have the Food and Agricultural Materials
vehicles, and other locations concerned with pet food manufacturing, importing, retail,transport, or storage operations of manufacturers, importers, or sellers as well as pet
food freight and warehouse operators to inspect pet food, raw materials, or books anddocuments concerning operations, and other items, to question the parties concerned, orseize pet food and raw materials to the extent necessary for inspection. Notwithstandingthat when pet food and raw materials are seized, compensation based on the market
price must be paid.

2.

When the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has an on-the-spot inspection,etc., carried out by FAMIC under the provision of the preceding paragraph, FAMIC
shall be given instructions on carrying out the on-the-spot inspection, etc., indicating thedate, location, and other necessary matters.

3.

When FAMIC has conducted an on-the-spot inspection, etc., under the provision ofparagraph 1 in accordance with the instructions in the preceding paragraph, it must
report the results to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as specified by
the Ordinance of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

4.

After receiving the report under the provision of the preceding paragraph, the Ministerof Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries shall promptly inform the Minister of theEnvironment of the contents.

5.

The provision of paragraphs 2 and 3 in the preceding article shall apply mutatis
mutandis to an on-the-spot inspection under the provision of paragraph 1, and theprovision of paragraph 5 in the same article shall apply mutatis mutandis to seizure
under the provision of paragraph 1.

(Orders to FAMIC)
Article 146

When deemed necessary to ensure the proper implementation of operations in an on-the-spotinspection under the provision of paragraph 1 of the preceding article, the Minister ofAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries may give the needed orders to FAMIC concerning therelevant operations.
(Exceptions concerning pet food for export)
Article 15
The partial exclusion from the application of this law and other necessary exceptions relating
to pet food for export may be made through Cabinet Order.
(Delegation of authority)
Article 16
1.

The authority of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries provided for by thislaw may be delegated to the Director-General of the Regional Agricultural
Administration Office as provided for by the Ordinance of Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries.

2.

The authority of the Minister of the Environment provided for by this law may bedelegated to the Director of the Regional Environment Office as provided for by theOrdinance of Ministry of the Environment.

(Interim measures)
Article 17
When an order is formulated, altered or abolished based on the provisions of this law, thenecessary interim measures (including interim measures concerning penal provisions) may beestablished to the extent reasonably deemed to be required in conjunction with theformulation, alteration, or abolition of the order.
Chapter IV
Penal Provisions
Article 18
A term of imprisonment of no more than one year or a fine of no more than 1 million yen or acombination of both shall be imposed on a person to whom any of the following items apply.
i.

A person who has infringed the provisions of article 6ii.

A person who has infringed the prohibition under the provision of paragraph 1 of article
7iii.

A person who has infringed an order under the provision of article 8Article 197

A fine of no more than 300,000 yen shall be imposed on a person to whom any of thefollowing items apply.
i.

A person who has failed to give the notification provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 ofarticle 9, or who has made a false notificationii.

A person who has failed to make the report provided for in paragraph 1 of article 11, or
who has made a false reportiii.

A person who has refused, obstructed, or avoided the inspection or seizure provided forin paragraph 1 of article 12 or in paragraph 1 of article 13, or who has failed to respondto the questioning under these provisions, or who has made a false response

Article 20
When the representative of a corporation, or the agent, staff or other employee of ain each of the relevant items shall be imposed on the corporation, and the fine in each article
shall be imposed on the person in addition to the punishment imposed on the offender.
i.

Article 18 A fine of no more than 100 million yenii.

The preceding article The fines in the preceding article

Article 21
A non-penal fine of no more than 200,000 yen shall be imposed on a person who has failed togive the notification provided for in paragraphs 3 and 5 of article 9, or who has given false
notification
Article 22
In the event of an infringement of an order based on the provisions of article 14, a non-penal
fine of no more than 200,000 yen shall be imposed on the FAMIC officer who committed theinfringement.
Article 23
A non-penal fine of no more than 100,000 yen shall be imposed on a person who has failed tokeep a book, or who has failed to make entries in the book, or who has recorded false entries
in the book, or who has failed to retain the book, in violation of the provisions of paragraph 1
and 2 of article 10.
Supplementary Provisions(Date of enforcement)
Article 18This law shall be enforced from the date specified by Cabinet Order, not to exceed one year
from the date of its promulgation. Notwithstanding that the provisions of the following article
and article 3 of the Supplementary Provisions shall be enforced from the date ofpromulgation.
(Preparations required for enforcement)
Article 2
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of the Environment may
hear the opinions of the Agricultural Material Council and the Central Environment Council,
respectively, regarding the establishment of standards and specifications under the provisionof paragraph 1 of article 5 before the enforcement of this law.
(Delegation to Cabinet Order)
Article 3
Apart from the provision in the preceding article, the necessary interim measures for theenforcement of this law shall be determined by Cabinet Order.
(Examination)
Article 4
When the national government deems it necessary taking into consideration the enforcement
status of this law five years after its enforcement, it shall examine the provisions of the law
and take the necessary measures based on the results of this examination.
(Partial revision of the Basic Environment Law)
Article 5
The Basic Environment Law (Law No. 91 of 1993) shall be partially amended as follows.

(Partial amendment of the Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center Act)
Article 6
The Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center Act (Law No. 183 of 1999) shall bepartially amended as follows.
Item 6 in paragraph 2 of article 10 shall be read as item 7; item 5 shall be read as item 6; andthe following item shall be added after item 4.

9(Partial amendment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Establishment Act)
Article 7
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Establishment Act (Law No. 98 of 1999)
shall be partially amended as follows.

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