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3.101. According to the authorities, during the review period, Japan took measures regarding regulations on vehicle safety and environmental protection, such as the introduction of the international regulations into its national regulations regarding International Whole Vehicle Type Approval, under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.

3.104. According to the authorities, the reason why there is a remaining gap of 3% in the harmonization of JIS [the Japanese Industrial Standard] with international standards is because of (i) protection of human health, safety, or the environment; (ii) fundamental climatic or other geographical factors; (...)

3.106. The authorities state that the drafting of technical regulations in Japan follows international requirements and recommendations. For instance, concerning vehicle safety and environmental protection, Japan has harmonized its national regulations with the International Whole Vehicle Type Approval under the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.

3.112. The Food Labelling Standards were also amended and entered into force on 16 July 2020 to reflect the revision to the Enforcement Order of the Act on Japanese Agricultural Standards to add organic livestock products in designated agricultural and forestry products. (...)

3.113. Another series of amendments entered into force on 30 March 2022 to make the nature of high oleic acid content in soybeans not subject to the "Specific Genetically Modified (GM) products" label and to make GM mustards subject to mandatory labelling for GM products.(...)

Box 3.1 Key agencies responsible for SPS measures
(...)
MHLW: Pharmaceutical Safety and Environmental Health Bureau: Responsible for administration of food safety including specifications and standards for food, food additives, pesticide residues, animal drug residues, genetically modified foods and their containers, (...)

Box 3.1 Key agencies responsible for SPS measures
(...)
Ministry of the Environment: Nature Conservation Bureau: Responsible for managing risks to the environment from imports, including from invasive alien species.(...)

Box 3.2 Selected SPS measures notified to the WTO, 2020-22
1. Notification of import (papaya seeds and seedlings for cultivation from Thailand)
The designation of living organisms that need notification prior to their importation based on the Cartagena Act (Japanese national law to implement the Cartagena Protocol on the Biosafety to Convention on Biological Diversity) was notified by WTO document G/SPS/N/JPN/874, 1 November 2021. The measure notified entered into force on 1 April 2022.
The outline of the measure is to prevent adverse effects on biological diversity. A person who imports papaya seeds and seedlings for cultivation from Thailand shall submit a notification to the MAFF[the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries] prior to their importation.
(...)

3.141. (...) the revised Corporate Governance Code (2021CGC) (...) encourages listed companies to enhance governance for their sustainable growth and mid- to long-term corporate value improvement. The 2021CGC stresses, inter alia, (i) enhancing board independence; (ii) promoting diversity; and (iii) paying attention to sustainability and the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspect of investment.

3.157. Japan maintains a government procurement policy to promote environmental protection. During the review period, two revisions of the Basic Policy on Promoting Green Procurement (the implementation rules concerning the Green Procurement Act[157]) were notified to the WTO Committee on Government Procurement.[158] The implementation rules concerning the Green Contract Act[159], namely the Basic Policy for the Promotion of Contracts considering Reduction of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases and Others by Government Entities and Independent Administrative Agencies, etc., were also revised in February 2022.[160] Major changes include adding the 2050 Carbon Neutrality Declaration and the 2030 Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Target (reduced by 46% from its 2013 level), updating the status of climate change and global warming issues, and revising the government action plan.
[157] Green Procurement Act. Viewed at: https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/2719.
[158] WTO documents GPA/LEGIS/JPN/3, 25 January 2021; and GPA/LEGIS/JPN/4, 15 April 2021. The last revision as of February 2022 strengthened the standards for recycled plastics and biomass plastics and added three new items: cassette for tape printer, tape for tape printer, and faucets. Ministry of the Environment, Basic Policy on Promoting Green Procurement (Provisional Translation). Viewed at: http://www.env.go.jp/policy/hozen/green/g-law/archive/bp/r3bp_en.pdf.
[159] Green Contract Act. Viewed at: https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/2726.
[160] Basic Policy on Green Contracts (February 2022). Viewed at: http://www.env.go.jp/policy/ga/kihonhoushin.html.