WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.00/139
14 March 2000
(00-1027)
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 International Trade and Industry
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [     ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [ X], 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):   Gas instantaneous water
heaters (HS:  84.19), Gas stoves (HS:  73.21), Gas bath heaters with gas burners
(HS: 732.21)
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Revision of the
Enforcement Ordinance of the Gas Utility Industry Law
6. Description of content:   In accordance with the provisions of the Gas Utility Industry Law,
which was promulgated in August last year (see G/TBT/Notif.99.115), and will be in effect
from October 2000, the following will be stipulated.
- Specified Gas Equipment and Appliances which conformity assessment by the
conformity assessment body approved by the Minister of MITI will be requiredcompulsorily.
- The period for which the certificate issued by the conformity assessment body
approved by the Minister of MITI will be effective.
- The period for which the approval granted to the conformity assessment body by 
the Minister of MITI will be effective, etc.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Under the Gas Utility Industry Law, the important amendment, such as the transfer from
government certification to self-declaration/third party conformity assessment and the
participation of private sector entities to third-party conformity assessment body, will be
realized.  And, it is required to ensure the smooth enforcement of the Law.
8. Relevant documents:   Gas Utility Industry Law
9. Proposed date of adoption:  March 2000
Proposed date of entry into force:  October 2000
10. Final date for comments:   23 March 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:           