Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/310/REV.1 |
S-IV§49 |
Japan |
2015 |
Sectors |
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Agriculture |
Relevant information
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Total support notified under the Green Box has fluctuated considerably over the past few years from ¥1,522.9 billion in FY2010 to ¥2,094.2 billion in 2004, with a sharp increase in FY2011 attributed to reconstruction and rehabilitation following the earthquake. In FY2012, infrastructural services along with disaster rehabilitation made up nearly half of the total spending while direct payments under various headings (rice conversion programme and others under environmental programmes, payments on historical bases, and regional assistance) accounted for about a sixth, while expenses of government officials and official agricultural statistics accounted for another tenth of the total (Chart 4.3).
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/310/REV.1 |
S-IV§66 |
Japan |
2015 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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Overall responsibility for national fisheries' policies lies with the Fisheries Agency in MAFF, while prefectural governments are responsible for local issues, such as management of local fisheries' resources. Regarding important policy decision-making, the Fisheries Policy Council (national level), the Regional Fisheries Coordination Committees (at regional level), and the Sea Area Coordination Committees (at prefectural level) are consulted for opinions depending on the nature of the issue.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/310/REV.1 |
S-IV§69 |
Japan |
2015 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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The main laws concerning the fisheries sector are:
• Fisheries Law of 1949 (revised in 1962 and last amended in 2007) which sets out basic rights to fisheries and licensing requirements for individuals and management entities;
• Basic Law on the Fisheries Policy of 2001 (last amended in 2008) which provides for measures to ensure sustainable exploitation, stability of supply, protection of the marine environment, and the basis for amendments of related legislation;
• Fisheries Cooperative Association Law of 1948 (last amended in 2007) which sets out the legal framework for the Fisheries Cooperation Associations;
• Law to Ensure Sustainable Aquaculture Production of 1999 (last amended in 2005) which addresses environmental concerns associated with aquaculture;
• Act on the Exercise of the Sovereign Right for Fishery, etc. in the Exclusive Economic Zone of 1996 (last amended in 2001);
• Act on Preservation and Control of Living Marine Resources of 1996 (last amended in 2007) which sets out the legal basis for establishing the total allowable catch (TAC) and total allowable effort (TAE);
• Act on the Protection of Fishery Resources of 1951 (last amended in 2010) which provides for measures to protect marine resources, such as closure of fishing grounds, and catch and gear restrictions, as well as measures to address pollution.
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Keywords
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Fish
Sustainable
Environment
Natural resources
Pollution
Conservation
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/310/REV.1 |
S-IV§70 |
Japan |
2015 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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Policy for the fisheries sector is set out in the Basic Plan for Fisheries which was formulated in 2012 following earlier plans such as the Basic Fisheries Plan of 2002 that was further developed in 2007. The Basic Plan sets out multiple objectives for the sector and fishing communities, based on four axes:
• Reconstruction of damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake;
• Sustainable use of resources through resource management and sustainable aquaculture;
• Promotion of consumption based on foods' safety, quality, and promotion; and
• Improved safety and livelihood of fishing communities.
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Keywords
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Fish
Sustainable
Natural resources
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/310/REV.1 |
S-IV§71 |
Japan |
2015 |
Measures |
Import licences |
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Relevant information
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The average duty on imports of fish and fish products is 6.2% with a maximum rate of 15% and a standard deviation of 3.7 – which indicates that there is not much variation among tariffs. In addition, other market access measures apply to several species:
• For some tuna and tuna-like species, such as bluefin tuna, southern bluefin tuna and bigeye tuna, Japan has import control systems, including import approval and acknowledgements for imports which, according to the authorities, are in accordance with the conservation and management measures of some tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT); and
(...)
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Keywords
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Fish
Conservation
Wildlife
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/310/REV.1 |
S-IV§71 |
Japan |
2015 |
Measures |
Import quotas |
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Relevant information
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The average duty on imports of fish and fish products is 6.2% with a maximum rate of 15% and a standard deviation of 3.7 – which indicates that there is not much variation among tariffs. In addition, other market access measures apply to several species:
(...)
• Import quotas apply to several other species, including herring, cod, mackerel, sardines, and saury. According to the authorities, these measures complement its management of coastal fisheries' resources, including TACs which apply to some of these species.
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Keywords
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Fish
Natural resources
Wildlife
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/310/REV.1 |
S-IV§68 |
Japan |
2015 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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The Fisheries Research Agency (FRA), an incorporated administrative agency, was established in 2001 as an independent body by incorporating nine National Fisheries Research Institutes. In 2003 it took over the duties of the Japan Marine Fishery Research Centre, and the Japan Sea-Farming Association, and, in 2006, the National Salmon Resources Centre. The FRA is responsible for research into many aspects of capture and aquaculture as well as monitoring fishing stocks. In 2009, following a request from the Fisheries Agency, it published "The Grand Design of Fisheries and Resources Management in Japan".
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/310/REV.1 |
S-IV§73 |
Japan |
2015 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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In 2012 the FRA (Fisheries Research Agency) assessed 52 species and 84 fishing stocks and estimated that resource levels were low for 35 stocks, medium for 34, and high for 15. Management of resources is based on several measures, including fishing rights and permits, as well as voluntary resource management supported by the Government.
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Keywords
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Fish
Natural resources
Wildlife
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/310/REV.1 |
S-IV§74 |
Japan |
2015 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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Fishery rights and permits for fishing may be granted as follows:
• Fishery rights granted by prefectural governors for coastal fishing based on the fishing ground plan which sets out the type of fishery, the fishing ground and other details. The rights include operation of large-scale set-net fishing, aquaculture in specified areas, and small-scale common fishing;
• The prefectural governors may grant permits for small- to medium-scale fishing based on prefectural regulations which must be approved by MAFF; and
• MAFF may grant permits for large-scale off-shore and distant-water fishing as well as specified fishing methods for certain species. The permits may be: (i) for some designated fisheries where the total number of vessels by tonnage class and each area of operation are specified in a 5-yearly (generally) notification made by the Minister; (ii) for some specified fisheries where the Ministers grants a permit each year; or (iii) for some activities and species where notification must be made to the Minister before the start of the operation period.
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Keywords
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Fish
Natural resources
Wildlife
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/310/REV.1 |
S-IV§75 |
Japan |
2015 |
Sectors |
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Fisheries |
Relevant information
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TAC (Total allowance catch) are set for seven species by the Fisheries Agency based on estimates of allowable biological catch and other factors and in consultation with different stakeholders. It has been noted that, in some cases, the TAC had been greater than the allowable biological catch and Japan has not introduced an explicit ban on discards. According to the authorities, efforts have been made to ensure that the TAC conforms to the allowable biological catch and individual quota systems have been introduced for three species, including Atlantic bluefin tuna and southern bluefin tuna.
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