. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/JPN/56
4 August 2000
(00-3207)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  JAPAN
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Health and Welfare
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, whereapplicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:
(1) Foods containing organisms derived fr om biotechnology, and processed foods 
containing the mentioned foods;
(2) Packaged processed foods containing specific original materials that can cause 
allergy.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Change of certain parts of
Standardized Regulations on Foods, Food Additives, and other Related Products (Ministry
of Health and Welfare Bulletin No. 23-Jul.1948) (Available in English, 3 pages)
5. Description of content:
(1) Mandatory labelling and import notification is proposed for foods containing
organisms derived from biotechnology, and processed foods containing the
aforementioned foods;
(2) Mandatory labelling is proposed for packaged processed foods containing specific
raw materials that can cause allergy.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  The basic law is the
Food Sanitation Law (Available in Japan).  The said amendments will appear in "KAMPO"
(the Official Gazette) when adopted.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  October 2000
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  1 April 2001G/SPS/N/JPN/56
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  7 October 2000
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [  X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:           
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:           