. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/JPN/43
15 February 1999
(99-0587)
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 and Welfare
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited
with the WTO.  ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Soft
drinks
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:   Amendment of Specifications and
Standards for Food and Food Additives (available in English, 5 pages)
5. Description of content:
Outline of planned amendments are as follows:
(1) To allow filtration processes in manufacturing standards for soft drinks other than
mineral water products, frozen fruit drinks and fruit juice for processing, and for frozen fruit
drinks which are produced with equipment other than closed and fully-automatic squeezes.
(2) To include the following passage, "dead micro-organisms which will not represent a
hazard to human health and cannot avoid being contained in the products", in the exemption
clause of the specifications, for turvidity and precipitates of the soft drinks.
6. Objective and rationale:  Protection of public health
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [ X ].
If an international standard, guideline or  recommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:
The basic law is the Food Sanitation Law.
The said amendments will appear in "KAMPO" (Official Gazette) when adopted.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  As soon as possible after commenting period.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  Not yet determined.G/SPS/N/JPN/43
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11. Final date for comments:  28 April 1999
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:           
12. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telefax number and
E-mail address (if available) of other body:            