Provisional Translation
| OTO No. | 583 | Classification | MAFF-90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Acceptance | September 7, 1998 | Ministry/Agency Receiving Complaint | Economic Planning Agency |
| Responsible Ministries | Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | Related Laws | Plant Protection Law |
| Complainant | Domestic firm | Exporting Countries | |
| Subject | Clarification of import standards for stag beetles and horned beetles from abroad | ||
| Description of Complaint | (1) Stag beetles and horned beetles from abroad, which are prohibited from import, can be imported for their exhibition in public museums and so on. This can be taken to mean that importing stag beetles etc. poses no problems as far as the Plant Protection Law is concerned. Therefore, the import of stag beetles, etc. which is permitted for show purposes, should also be allowed for the purpose of sale. (2) Further, since it is unclear whether species similar to those found in Japan, for which there may be no problem on plant quarantine in Japan, may be imported, the import standards for stag beetles, etc. should be clarified. In particular, it should be clarified whether Atlas horned beetles and six other species can be imported. |
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| Details of Measures | 1. The ministry replied as follows: (1) Insects prohibited from import can be imported, after receiving a permit from the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, only for the purpose of promoting scientific research used a) for testing and research; b) as display samples in museums, etc.; or c) as evidence in a criminal investigation. In and after individual use, they should be controlled and disposed of by killing to prevent the spread of disease-carrying pests. Accordingly, it is not possible to import such insects prohibited from import for the purpose of sale. (2) Some insects in the stag beetle and horned beetle family are deemed to be disease-carrying pests, while information on the subjects including their ecology is very scanty to determine whether they are harmful organisms. (3) Regarding the seven species of insect for which a query was received in this complaint, the ministry is currently referring to literature on their ecology, etc. in order to determine harmful characteristics of the individual species. Hence it would like to have more time to reply as to whether import of those species may be allowed. 2. The ministry made the following additional reply. After examination of documentary sources, etc. by the department concerned, it was determined that since the seven species listed below are not regarded as quarantine pests they can be imported under the Plant Protection Law. Chalcosoma atlas, Eupatpurus gracilicornis Neolucanus maximus, Odontolabis dalmanni Dorcus antaeus, Dorcus curuvidens, Dorcus titanus |
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| Classification of Processing | (1)D (2)A |
Directions | I-b |
| Remarks | |||