JAPAN: FOODS The following notification has been received in Gatt document TBT/Notification 94.490 dated 16 December 1994. 1. Party to Agreement notifying: JAPAN. 2. Agency Responsible: Ministry of Health and Welfare. 3. Notified under Article 7.3.2. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): A. Foods generally. B. Foods Additives. C. Foods generally but with phasing in. 5. Title and number of pages of the notified document: A. Revision of the importation procedures (Available in English, 1 Page) B. Revisision of the food additive regulations (Available in English. 1 Page) C. Introduction of the advanced and diverse sanitary control system (Available in English. 1 Page). 6. Description of Content: A. To introduce optional computerized importation procedures and to streamline provisions for mandatory testing for imports. B. To make food additives of natural origin subject to approval for use. With some exceptions to avoid unjustifiable inconveniences. C. To introduce a voluntary system in which uniform manufacturing regulations will not be applied to those manufacturers who wish to employ HACCP and are certified as such by relevant regulatory authorities. 7. Objective and Rationale: Public Health. 8. Relevant Documents: The basic law is the Food Sanitation law. The said amendment will appear in ``Kampo'' (Official Government Gazette) when adopted. 9. Proposed date of adooption and entry into force: Subject to the decision by the diet. 10. Final date for comments: 20 February 1995. (004)

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