| OTO No. | 632 | Classification | MHLW-(2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Acceptance | February 5, 2001 | Ministry/Agency Receiving Complaint | Cabinet Office | |
| Responsible Ministries | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare | Related Laws | Food Sanitation Law | |
| Complainant | Domestic firm | Exporting Countries | Belgium | |
| Subject | Review of Specifications and Standards for Food and Food Additives, etc. (sorbic acid potassium) | |||
| Description of Complaint |
Under Article 7-1 of the Food Sanitation Law, the government has set up specifications and standards for food additives, etc. (for use, manufacturing and components) in the "Specifications and Standards for Food and Food Additives, etc." (Notification by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) from the viewpoint of public sanitation. Imports and sales of products failing to meet the standards are banned under Article 7-2 of the law. Praline chocolate (stuffed chocolate) from Belgium cannot be imported into Japan since the fresh cream stuffing contains sorbic acid potassium that fails to meet the standards for the use of food additives. But the chocolate in question is in distribution throughout the world including Europe and the United States. Japan's ban on the product amounts to an import barrier. The government should review the standards for use of food additives to allow the products to be imported into Japan. |
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| Details of Measures |
The ministry replied as follows: Article 7-1 of the Food Sanitation Law entitles the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare to set up standards for food manufacturing methods and other matters, based on recommendations by the Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council. Revisions to the standards for use of food additives must be made in accordance with a guideline (Environmental Health Bureau Director-General's Food Chemistry Notice No. 29, March 1996). If those who hope for revisions based on the guideline make relevant requests to the minister, appropriate measures will be taken. |
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| Classification of Processing | D | Directions | I-a | |
| Remarks | A written reply was made on February 14, 2001. | |||