(1) PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The objective of this law is to contribute to public safety and stable production of livestock products by regulating production of feeds and feed additives, setting official specifications for feeds, and conducting inspections of feeds in conformity with the official specifications so as to provide assured safety and improved quality of feeds.

(2) OUTLINE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
Designation of feed additives (Paragraph 3 of Article 2), establishment of standards and specifications of feeds and feed additives (Article 3), prohibition of manufacturing, storing or using feeds or feed additives by methods which do not comply with from the standards and specifications (Article 4), national assays of feeds and feed additives specified in Enforcement Ordinance of the Standards of Feed and Feed Additives and labeling feeds and feed additives which passed the assays (Article 5), and stationing of feed manufacturer supervisors in plants (Article 25).
Establishment of official specification, certification tests for official specification and standards of labeling of feeds on nutritions (Article 26, 27 and 32).
Hearing reports from feed manufacturers (Article 55) and on-the-spot inspections toward feed manufacturers, questioning, collecting and testing of feed samples, testing the samples and official announcement of the findings of feed manufacturers and the test results (Article 56).

(3) CABINET ORDER AND MINISTRIAL ORDINANCES
Enforcement Order of the Law Concerning Safety Assurance and Quality Improvement of Feed
Enforcement Regulations of the Law Concerning Safety Assurance and Quality Improvement of Feed
Enforcement Ordinance of the Standards of Feed and Feed Additives

(4) OUTLINE OF THE CONTROL
1) Items Covered
Feed and feed additives

2) Outline of Standards, Specifications and Inspections, etc.
To prevent production of harmful livestock products or damages to livestock by feeding, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries consults with the Agricultural Materials Council and establishes standards and specifications of feeds or feed additives. Feed which are not compliant with such standards or specifications must not not allowed to be produced, sold, used, or imported for sale (Articles 3-1 and 4).
The national assays of feeds and feed additives specified in Enforcement Ordinance of the Standards of Feed and Feed Additives, e.g. peanut oilcake from India and antibiotics, are conducted and certified by the Fertilizer and Feed Inspection Services, an independent administrative agency (Article 5).
Certification tests for official specifications for nutrient ingredients are conducted by registered organizations for the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or prefectural government(Enforcement Regulations Article 43, Law Article 27).

3) Certification System

i. Registered testing agencies

ii.Flowchart for testing procedure

(5) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RECENT AMENDMENT
To eradicate bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the use of ruminant-derived animal fat in cattle feed and the use of animal fat from cattle's spinal column and dead cattle in feed for livestock (other than cattle) has been banned, along with the system confirming compliance of the ban in the manufacturing process, in which confirmation is issued by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (May, 2004).
An importer must notice production origin, description of materials and substances of processed feeds or feed additives. Also, a feed retailer is required to submit notifications (June, 2005).

(6) REFERENCE INFORMATION
(Liaison Office for Further Information)
Animal Products Safety Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau,
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Tel: 03-3502-8111(Ext. 3176) http://www.maff.go.jp