Provisional Translation
| OTO No. | 567 | Classification | MHW-245 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Acceptance | February 13, 1998 | Ministry/Agency Receiving Complaint | Economic Planning Agency |
| Responsible Ministries | Ministry of Health and Welfare | Related Laws | Food Sanitation Law |
| Complainant | Royal Netherlands Embassy (proxy complaint) | Exporting Countries | The Netherlands |
| Subject | Review of testing method for arsenic in activated charcoal in the Official Listing of Food Additives. | ||
| Details of Measures | Description of Complaint: 1. When activated charcoal is imported for use in food manufacturing, etc., the heavy metal (arsenic) content of the activated charcoal must be lower than the benchmark value, as tested by the method stipulated in the Official Listing of Food Additives. However, the testing method for detecting arsenic was changed from the earlier acid extraction method to the incineration method, resulting in a de facto tightening of standards and thus making it impossible to import the usual products. 2. Based on the actual use of activated charcoal in foods, etc., the usual testing method, which can detect arsenic on the surface of the charcoal, is sufficient, even in consideration of the safety factor. Therefore, the complainant maintains that the testing method should be reviewed to allow use of the usual method for testing arsenic in activated charcoal, taking usage and regulations in use in other countries into consideration. The ministry replied as follows: 1. The Official Listing of Food Additives is being reviewed for comprehensive revision during FY1998. The testing method for arsenic in activated charcoal in this complaint was changed in 1992 after following the necessary procedures, including reporting to GATT. 2. The above matter was studied by the 7th Study Council on the Official Listing of Food Additives, and a proposal to change the testing method from the acid extraction method to the incineration method was made at meetings on June 1 and July 7, 1998 of the joint committee on additives and poisons of the Food Sanitation Investigation Council. 3. Since the Food Sanitation Investigation Council received an answer concerning changes to the Official Listing of Food Additives, including the contents of the above recommendation, on March 25, 1999, changes to the Official Listing of Food Additives were made on April, 6. |
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| Classification of Processing | A | Directions | I-a |
| Remarks | Improvement measures were taken on April 6, 1999. | ||