Provisional Translation
| OTO No. | 549 | Classification | MHW-235 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Acceptance | December 3, 1996 | Ministry/Agency Receiving Complaint | Economic Planning Agency |
| Responsible Ministries | Ministry of Health and Welfare | Related Laws | Food Sanitation Law |
| Complainant | Domestic firm | Exporting Countries | USA |
| Subject | Abolishing the import notification requirement for appliances | ||
| Details of Measures | Description of Complaint: 1. When 'endless blades' for slicing bread are imported, an import notification for foods, etc. must be submitted each time. 2. However, the complainant claims that the system is contradictory, because domestic manufacturers are not required to submit a notification and that the notification requirement for appliances should also be abolished for foreign firms. The ministry replied as follows: 1. In the case of machinery or equipment which comes in direct contact with food, it is essential to have information on imported foods, etc. through notification, to prevent harm to food sanitation if the material used for the appliance should dissolve, and to determine the cause of any harm to food sanitation due to imported foods and take quick and appropriate action, by notifying the exporting country and so on. Accordingly, the quarantine authorities must be notified at the time of each import, similarly to the requirement for foods, additives, etc. Further, the notification requirement under the Food Sanitation Law cannot be abolished, since in the case of imported products it is impossible to directly oversee manufacture or processing in the exporting country, and accordingly notification is required each time appliances are imported. 2. Where domestic food-related businesses are concerned, food preparation and the manufacture of appliances are regulated by the Food Sanitation Law and foods and appliances are manufactured and sold in conformity with this Law. Specifically, domestic manufacturing facilities for appliances undergo a yearly inspection by a food sanitation inspector and receive guidance, as called for under the Law, and accordingly, there is no contradiction in terms of the system. 3. In order to simplify import procedures for foods, etc., importers may submit a one-year or a three-year import plan, together with the food import declaration form, in the case of certain foods, etc. imported repeatedly. If there are no problems, the importers may be exempt from filing a notification at the time of each import, for a certain time period (planned import system). 4. Import plans under the said system must be submitted so that the ministry can be aware of import trends and have an import monitoring system in place in case of emergencies under the Food Sanitation Law. This purpose of this requirement is not to force importers to follow the import plan. The ministry will endeavor to inform importers and others, through quarantine offices, of the exact procedures under this system. |
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| Classification of Processing | Cc | Directions | II-a |
| Remarks | |||