. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/JPN/15
22 June 2001
(01-3115)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
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 Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site
addresses, if available) of  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 [    ], 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):   All foods
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Labelling Standard
for GMOs determined by the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries based on
Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the Quality Labelling Standard for Processed Foods and on
Quality Labeling Standard for Perishable Foods (5 pages, in Japanese)
6. Description of content:
(1) Regarding genetically modified agricultural products which are not equivalent to
the corresponding existing ones in their composition or nutritional value, andprocessed foods mainly made of such agricultural products, this amendment
introduces the provisions for mandatory labelling to indicate the changed
composition or nutrient content and to state that they are genetically modified.
(2) High oleic acid soybeans obtained through technique of genetic modification and
processed foods mainly made of such soybeans (including foods subsequently
processed from such foods) are designated as those covered by the provisions
mentioned in (1) above.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Protection of the consumers' interest.
8. Relevant documents:   The Law Concerning Standardization and Proper Labelling of
Agricultural and Forestry Products (1950 Law No. 175)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  3rd quarter 2001 (To be announced in the official gazette)
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be announced in the official gazetteG/TBT/N/JPN/15
Page 2
10. Final date for comments:   20 August 2001
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, telephone and fax
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:           