 
 Revision of the specifications for  mineral waters  
 
The government of Japan will revise specifications  for Di(2 -ethylhexyl) phthalate in 
mineral waters.  
 
Background  
Under Article 13, paragraph (2) of the Food Sanitation Act (Act No. 233 of 1947; “the 
Act”),  Japan prohibits the sale of  foods and food additives for which s pecifications or 
standards are stipulated  in the Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Add itives, 
Etc. (Public Notice of the Ministry of Health and Welfare No. 370, 1959; “the Public 
Notice”) pursuant to paragraph (1) of the same article of the Act when the foods or  the 
food additives do not meet  the specifications or the standards.  
 
The specifications and standards  for mineral waters  stipulated in the Public Notice  have 
been successively reviewed based on the assessment of health effects of food  by the risk 
assessment body, t he Food Safety Commission of Japan under the Cabine t Office  (“the 
FSCJ ”), considering consistency with the water quality standards stipulated in  Japan’s 
Water Supply Act and international standards such as Codex. This time, Japan will 
revise the specifications for Di(2-ethylhexyl)  phthalate  in mineral wate rs as below based 
on the assessment report from the FSCJ . 
 
Outline of revision  
Compositional specifications for mineral waters (sterilized or filter sterilized)  
（mg/l） 
Substance name  Maximum level 
(current)  Maximum level  
(draft)  
Di(2-ethylhexyl)  phthalate  Not established  0.07 
Note: The underlined part is the revised level (draft).  
 
 