6th Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (March 16, 2000)

1-(10) Response of the quarantine station to minor errors

1. Complainant: Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of Health and Welfare

3. Complaint:

When foods are imported and import declarations for foods are submitted to the quarantine station, the quarantine station requires that documents be resubmitted when there are typing mistakes or other errors of a clearly careless nature, causing a loss of time.
The quarantine station should not require documents to be resubmitted in such cases.

4. Corresponding Policy of the Ministries concerned:

Regarding typing mistakes and other minor mistakes in the particulars on import declarations for foods, an administrative memorandum was issued on December 20, 1971 to respond to similar complaints, and the chief of quarantine stations were notified in notice No. 184 by the director for food health, Environmental Health Bureau issued on August 18, 1982. The parties concerned will be further reminded of this through notices and at liaison meetings.

5. Remarks
The complainant accepted this policy.