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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 ;
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- 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); (...)

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was revised in March 2015 and in February 2016. 58 other JAS have been revised since 2014 and three JAS have been withdrawn.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%.

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.

Box 3.3 Key agencies responsible for SPS measures
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Department of Environmental Health and Food Safety, 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 food containers, inspection and safety measures for food.
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Ministry of the Environment
Responsible for managing risks to the environment from imports, including from invasive alien species.
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The Ministerial Ordinance of the Act on the Protection of Fishery Resources was revised on 27 January 2016, as were the Aquatic Quarantine Measures notably regarding the diseases and aquatic animal species subject to import quarantine and a detention period.

Genetically modified (GM) foods must be labelled as such. Presently, the list of GM products that need to be labelled comprises eight crops (soybeans, corn, rapeseed, potatoes, cottonseed, alfalfa, papaya, and sugar beet) and 33 kinds of designated processed food, mainly made of soybeans or corn; papaya and processed foods containing papaya as a main ingredient are recent additions. The MHLW does not permit imports of GM foods that do not meet its safety requirements.

Japan has made four notifications to the Government Procurement Committee since 2014, namely a notification on the partial revision of the Basic Policy concerning the Promotion of Contracts Considering Reduction of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases and Others by the State and Other Entities , and three notifications on successive revisions to the Basic Policy for the Promotion of the Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods and Services under the Law concerning the Promotion of the Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods and Services by the State and Other Entities.

Table 3.28 Procurement by type of service, 2013 and 2014
Type of service 2013 2014
Total value
(¥100 million) Foreign share (%) Total value (¥100 million) Foreign share (%)
Sewage and refuse disposal, sanitation and other environmental protection 92.2 0.0 289.6 0.0
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With a view to maintaining and demonstrating the multi-functional roles of agriculture and rural areas, the Act on Multi-Functionality of Agriculture was promulgated in June 2014 and entered into force in April 2015. The law aims to reform direct payments and establishes three programmes that aim to: (1) promote environmentally friendly farming practices and activities; (2) provide assistance to farmers in hilly and mountainous areas; and (3) maintain and enhance multi functionality.

Under the direct payment programme for environmentally friendly farming, a total area of 74,180 ha was estimated to receive an average payment of ¥56,792 per ha in FY2015.