Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/351/REV.1 |
S-III§7 |
Japan |
2017 |
Measures |
Other measures |
Other |
Relevant information
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As stipulated in Article 1.3 of the TFA, Japan maintains the following enquiry points:
(...)
• the Environmental Policy Division in METI for issues related to the Basel Convention; and
• the Waste Management and Recycling Department in the Ministry of the Environment and Local Environment Offices in each prefecture for environmental issues.
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Keywords
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Environment
Waste
Recycle
MEAs
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/351/REV.1 |
S-III§30 |
Japan |
2017 |
Measures |
Ban/Prohibition, Import licences |
Other |
Relevant information
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Imports of certain goods are prohibited under Article 69-11 of Japan's Customs Law. Imports of narcotics, certain weapons, and animals or plants listed in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) may be prohibited or subject to import licensing requirements for reasons of national security, safeguarding consumer health and well-being, and preserving domestic plant and animal life and the environment. Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act governs import licensing procedures. (...)
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Keywords
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Endangered
Environment
MEAs
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/351/REV.1 |
S-III§31 |
Japan |
2017 |
Measures |
Ban/Prohibition, Import licences |
Chemicals, Other |
Relevant information
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At present, products that require import approval or are prohibited include: certain marine products, certain medicines and chemical products, propellant powders, nuclear goods, weapons, wild animals and plants, substances that deplete the ozone layer, specified hazardous wastes, certain chemical weapons production materials, alcohol, rough diamonds, cultural property illegally removed from Iraq, all goods from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and weapons and other items from the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and Eritrea, and Charcoal from Somalia, and chemical weapons and other items related to chemical weapons programme and cultural property illegally moved from Syrian Arab Republic, as per United Nations Security Council Resolution. Licences to import are issued free of cost. Japan amended the Customs Law in March 2015; the amendment added the products designated under Article 2, paragraph 15 of the Law on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Products including Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices to the list of items subject to import prohibition. In a 2016 amendment of the Customs Law, Japan added goods produced through the use of unlawfully obtained trade secrets (as stipulated by the Unfair Competition Prevention Act) to the list of items subject to import prohibition.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/351/REV.1 |
S-III§34 |
Japan |
2017 |
Measures |
Import quotas |
Chemicals |
Relevant information
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Japan uses quantitative restrictions on imports (import quotas); according to the authorities, the quotas adhere to the WTO Agreements. Products subject to import quotas (unchanged since 2007) include: certain fish products and controlled substances listed in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/351/REV.1 |
S-III§37 |
Japan |
2017 |
Measures |
Import licences |
Chemicals |
Relevant information
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Japan has in place a system of prior confirmation to collect data on certain imports. The system is intended to ensure that these imports are for specific uses, and to verify documentation and origin requirements. Prior confirmation is required from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, or the relevant minister. The system is used, inter alia, for goods where fraudulent declarations have been found in the past or for goods deemed to be at high risk for fraud. These include: vaccines of microbial origin for experimental use; specified foreign cultural property; tuna; swordfish; whales; poppy and hemp seeds; certain substances listed in the Montreal Protocol; radioisotopes; diamonds; and various other chemicals.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/351/REV.1 |
S-Table-III.4 |
Japan |
2017 |
Measures |
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Other |
Relevant information
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Table 3.4 Principal legislation affecting exports
Legislation First passed Last amended Purpose
Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 1992 2014 Provides the legal basis for the Minister of the Environment to draft guidelines on conservation of endangered species, the requirement to have approval for international trade, and other measures for their protection
(...)
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Keywords
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Conservation
Endangered
Wildlife
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/351/REV.1 |
S-III§63 |
Japan |
2017 |
Measures |
Other environmental requirements |
Other |
Relevant information
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Japan maintains export controls for security, conservation, and humanitarian reasons. Most of the products in the lists of goods appended to the Export Trade Control Order and the lists of technologies appended to the Foreign Exchange Order are related to Japan's international commitments (such as CITES and the Chemical Weapons Convention) or its participation in non binding arrangements (...)
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/351/REV.1 |
S-III§123 |
Japan |
2017 |
Measures |
Technical regulation or specifications |
Agriculture, Manufacturing |
Relevant information
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Other recent changes to technical regulations include:
- The establishment of technical regulations under the Act on the Rational Use of Energy for (i) sash, frames and glazing on 30 November 2014, (ii) commercial vehicles on 10 July 2015, and (iii) electric refrigerators and electric freezers on 1 March 2016. New energy efficiency standards were established for freezing/refrigerating showcases, and a new fuel efficiency test was added for passenger commercial vehicles in FY2016; these standards will include the energy consumption efficiency measurement method, standard method and labelling requirement ;
(...)
- Several revisions of the JAS for Organic Plants (December 2015 and February 2016) and of the JAS for Organic Processed Foods of Organic Plants (March 2015 and February 2016); (...)
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/351/REV.1 |
S-III§130 |
Japan |
2017 |
Measures |
Technical regulation or specifications |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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Regarding Japan Agricultural Standards (JAS), two JAS (the JAS for Organic Plants and the JAS for Organic Processed Foods of Organic Plants) are technical regulations, whereas all other JAS are standards but not technical regulations. The JAS for Organic Plants was revised in December 2015 and in February 2016, while the JAS for Organic Processed Foods of Organic Plants was revised in March 2015 and in February 2016. 58 other JAS have been revised since 2014 and three JAS have been withdrawn. At the end of March 2016, the total number of JAS in force was 201 and the number of JAS corresponding with international standards was 80; the proportion of JAS harmonized with international standards was 78%.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/351/REV.1 |
S-III§133 |
Japan |
2017 |
Measures |
Technical regulation or specifications |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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Compliance with the JAS is not necessary for imports into Japan except for organic plants and organic processed foods of plant origin. The JAS Law allows third-party organizations to certify operators (e.g. manufacturers) to affix JAS marks. The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as well as registered certifying bodies (RCBs) and registered overseas certifying bodies (ROCBs) are responsible for monitoring and managing JAS marks. Foreign producers or manufacturers that are certified by RCBs and ROCBs may conduct their own grading and affix the JAS marks to their products. As at March 2016, there were 23 ROCBs and 92 domestic RCBs; furthermore, there were around 3,000 foreign certified operators and around 7,000 domestic certified operators.
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Keywords
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