. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/JPN/106
21 July 2003
(03-3910)
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, Labour and Welfare
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where
applicable):  Food additives (L-ascorbic acid 2-glucoside, sulfites and tar colors
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All
countries
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Amendment of the
enforcement ordinance of the Food Sanitation La w and the standards and specifications for
food additives (Available in English, 17 pages)
6. Description of content:  Authorization of L-ascorbic acid 2-glucoside as a food additive and
establishment of standards and specifications for the substance.  Revision of the current
standards for use of sulfites (potassium pyrosu lfite, sodium hydrosulfite, sodium pyrosulfite,
sodium sulfite, and sulfur dioxide).  Amendmen t of the compositional specifications for tar
colors.
7. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection,
[  ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or di sease,  [   ]  protect territory from other
damage from pests
8. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[ X ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [ X ] None (except sulfur dioxide MRL
for raisins)
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Sulfur dioxide MRL for raisins is identical to
CODEX STAN 67 (1,500 mg/kg)
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  The basic law is the
Food Sanitation Law.  The amendments will appear in "KANPO" (Official Government
Gazette) when adopted.
10. Proposed date of adoption:   As soon as possible after the final date for the comment period.
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   As soon as possible after the final date for the comment
period.G/SPS/N/JPN/106
Page 2
12. Final date for comments:  22 September 2003
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:
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority,  [ X ]  National enquiry point,
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: