./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/2/JPN/3
27 April 2001
(01-2122)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  English
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
Notifications under Article 5
JAPAN
The following notification, dated 12 April 2001, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Japan.
_______________
1. Member:  Japan.
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
3. Title:  Licensing procedure for import of alcohol for test, research or analysis.
4. Description of content:
An importer who intends to import alcohol which refers to an alcoholic strength by volume of
90 per cent vol. or higher (HS No. 2207.10) for the purpose of using it for test, research or
analysis must obtain the approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry for eachimport.
5. Objective and rationale:
The purpose of this non-automatic licensing procedure is to allow the importer who is neither
a permitted importer nor permitted user to import alcohol for the purpose of using it for test,
research or analysis.
6. Modification matters:
Not applicable
7. Reference:(a) Contact point for information on eligibility:
Alcohol Division, Manufacture Industries Burea u, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(b) Administrative body for submission of applications:
Application shall be submitted to the Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry located in the
region where applicants are to import the alcohol.G/LIC/N/2/JPN/3
Page 2
 (c) Date and name of publication where licensing procedures are published:
Import licensing procedures are stipulated in Article 18 of the Ministerial Ordinance of the
Alcohol Business Law.
The above-mentioned Ministerial Ordinance has been published in "KAMPO" (Official
Government Gazette) dated 5 October 2000.
 (d) Classification of import authorization and the measure being implemented through the
licensing procedure:
Classification:  Non-automatic
Measure:  An importer who intends to import the alcohol for the purpose of using it for test,
research or analysis shall submit the applicatio n for approval for each import to the Bureau of
Economy, Trade and Industry located in the region where applicants are to import the alcohol.The Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, when it approves the application, issues the
import approval to the applicant.
(e) Expected duration of the licensing procedure if this can be estimated with some probability,
and if not, why this information cannot be provided:
Licensing procedure is ongoing, as long as ther e are imports of alcohol for test, research or
analysis under the Alcohol Business Law.
__________