. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/JPN/100
1 May 2003
(03-2330)
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, Labour and Welfare
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where
applicable):   Food additives (magnesium stearate, trimagnesium phosphate, magnesium
oxide and magnesium carbonate)
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:   All
countries.
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Amendment of the
enforcement ordinance of the Food Sanitation Law and the standards and specifications for
food additives (available in English, 8 pages)
6. Description of content:   Authorization of magnesium stearate and trimagnesium phosphate
as food additives and establishment of standards and specifications for these substances.
Revocation of the current standards for use of magnesium oxide and magnesium carbonate.
7. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease, [   ] protect territory from other
damage from pests
8. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[ X ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [   ] None
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   The basic law is the
Food Sanitation Law.  The amendments will appear in "KANPO" (Official Government
Gazette) when adopted.
10. Proposed date of adoption:   As soon as possible after the final date for comments.
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   As soon as possible after the final date for comments.G/SPS/N/JPN/100
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12. Final date for comments:   7 July 2003
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority,  [ X ] National enquiry point,
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: