1.

Notifying Member: Japan

If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):

2.

Agency responsible: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan

Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website addresses, if available) of 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): Organic plants

5.

Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Overview of Revisions to the Japanese Agricultural Standards for Organic Plants (1 pages, in English)

6.

Description of content: The Japanese Agricultural Standards for Organic Plants will be revised as follows:

1)         In order to add sprouts as scope of the standard, to prescribe "including productivity derived from their seeds, in case of sprouts production" in principles of production of organic plants;

2)         To add "cultivation facilities for sprouts" to definition of cultivation sites;

3)         To add provision concerning sprouts such as cultivation sites, seeds to be used in cultivation facilities for sprouts, and cultivation management in cultivation sites to the criteria of production methods.

7.

Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: To reflect current practice, etc. in the production of organic agricultural products.

8.

Relevant documents: 

a)         Japanese Agricultural Standards for Organic Plants (Notification No.1605 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of 27 October 2005)

b)         Law Concerning Standardization, etc. of Agricultural and Forestry Products (Law No. 175 of 1950)

9.

Proposed date of adoption: To be determined

Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined

10.

Final date for comments: 60 days from the date of circulation

11.

Texts available from: National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:

Japan Enquiry Point

International Trade Division

Economic Affairs Bureau

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Fax: (+81 3) 5501 8343

E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/TBT/JPN/15_2206_00_e.pdf