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(Provisional Translation)

Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (May 13, 1994) [Government decision] [Follow-up]

1-(1) International Harmonization of Standard (JAS) for Grape Juice Concentrate

1. Complainants: Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, Australian Embassy

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

3. Complaint:

The complainants have insisted that requirement of JAS certification for grape juice concentrate are set based on the composition of Japanese products and American ones, so that Australian products are not certified to carry the JAS mark. But Australian products does not seem to be defective in respect quality or safety, the JAS mark specifications (in particular, criteria for amino nitrogen) should be amended to cover them and to be in conformance with the relevant Australian standards.

4. Results of deliberation:

The JAS standards for grape juice have so far been set based on red grape juice, but recently the Research Committee for Agricultural and Forest Products Standard approved the proposal to amend the standards to cover white grape juice as well. The ministry concerned is currently following the necessary procedures and working to amend the notification based on the proposal as soon as possible.

This action is fully appreciated and is expected to satisfy the complainants' request.

Government decision (June 24, 1994) [Report] [Follow-up]

1-(1) Improvement of JAS Standards for grape juice concentrate

Regarding rectification of JAS Standards to deal with juice from white grapes, a notification will be amended by July or August 1994, based on the amendment recently adopted by the Research Committee for Agricultural and Forest Product Standard.

Follow-up (June 5, 1995) [Report] [Government decision]

1-(1) International Harmonization of JAS Standards for Grape Juice Concentrate

Where JAS standards for grape juice are concerned, in order to cover white grape juice, the JAS standards for fruit juices were amended (announced in October 1994 and implemented in November 1994) to include a standard index for juice extracted from white grapes, in addition to the standard index for grape juice under the standard so far.