Provisional Translation
| OTO No. | 488 | Classification | MHW-221 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Acceptance | September 18, 1992 | Ministry/Agency Receiving Complaint | Economic Planning Agency |
| Responsible Ministries | Ministry of Health and Welfare | Related Laws | Food Sanitation Law |
| Complainant | US firm | Exporting Countries | USA |
| Subject | International harmonization of classification standards for water purifiers | ||
| Details of Measures | The Food Sanitation Law carries out the necessary regulation of foods, food additives, equipment, containers and wrapping materials intended to be sold, in order to prevent sanitation hazards. The Food Sanitation Law does not provide for exceptions in the case of products for temporary or emergency use, and the provisions of the Food Sanitation Law apply to the water purifier in question in the same way as they do to ordinary products. The iodine compound contained in this water purifier is used to disinfect water by freeing iodine into the water, and the iodine compound in question is considered a food additive in Japan. However, under the Food Sanitation Law, iodine compounds are not permitted to be used as food additives and accordingly, water purifiers using this substance cannot be imported. The complainant was advised that in order to allow import of the water purifier in question, the iodine compound must be newly designated as a food additive. This involves indicating the name of the food additive, its purpose of use, method of use and foods in which it is used, and attaching data regarding the safety, usefulness and need of this food additive, and applying to the Ministry of Health and Welfare following the prescribed procedure. When the complainant was advised in writing of the prescribed procedure for food additives, the complainant replied that they wished to close processing of this complaint. |
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| Classification of Processing | Cc | Directions | I-a I-b |
| Remarks | |||