WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99/669
23 December 1999
(99-5564)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   JAPAN
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   All foods and beverages
on sale for consumers
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Labelling Standards
for GMO Determined by Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Based on Article 7
of the Quality Labelling Standards for Processed Foods and on Quality Labelling Standards
for Fresh Foods (available in English, 2 pages)
6. Description of content:   To determine the scope of application of the quality labelling
standards, and to determine the definition, labelling items, mode of labelling and items
prohibited to appear on the label.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Protection of the consumers' interest.
8. Relevant documents:   The Law Concerning Standardization and Proper Labelling of
Agricultural and Forestry Products (1950 Law No. 175)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  1 April 2000
Proposed date of entry into force: 1 April 2001
10. Final date for comments:   20 February 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:           