WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.00/454
25 September 2000
(00-3854)
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 [  X ], 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 space heaters (HS:  73.21), gas bath heaters with gas burners(HS:  73.21), gas bath burners (HS:  73.21).
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Revision of the
Ministerial Ordinance Concerning the Inspection of Gas Equipment and Appliances.
6. Description of content:   In accordance with the provisions of the Gas Utility Industry Law,
which will be effective from October 2 000 (see G/TBT/Notif.99.115, G/TBT/Notif.00.139
and G/TBT/Notif.00/160), the following will be stipulated:
- Detailed procedure for conducting Conformity Assessment of Specified Gas
Equipment and Appliances;
- Conformity Assessment procedures and procedures to prepare and keep Records for
Reporting Suppliers;
- Technical Requirements;
- Method to affix the marks;
- Detailed criteria to which the applicant for the Approved Conformity Assessment
Body will be required, 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.  Also, it is required to ensure the smooth enforcement of the Law.
8. Relevant documents:   Gas Utility Industry Law, Ministerial Ordinance Concerning the
Inspection of Gas Equipment and Appliances.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  26 September 2000
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 October 2000
10. Final date for comments:   25 September 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:           