MAFF UPDATE No.701 (Published on AUGUST 8, 2008)

MAFF will hold a session of the Subcommittee of the Council for Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) at 2:00 p.m. on August 29th, 2008. The session will be held in the Dai-2-Tokubetsu Meeting Room at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (the fourth floor, door #467). The session will consider the Japanese Agricultural Standards to be established for Processed food distributed under the controlled temperatures (tentative name).

Those who wish to listen to the discussion or make comments at the session are asked to apply, in Japanese, either by fax or mail. Please indicate the name, address, membership (such as organization, company) and telephone number (and fax number if available) of the applicant, and whether you wish to make comments or just listen to the discussion. Please note that applications by telephone will not be accepted.

If you are applying by mail, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope (a double postal card is also available). One application per applicant is required. All applications, whether by fax or mail, must be received no later than 5 p.m. on August 21st, 2008. If you wish to be accompanied by an interpreter or a disability assistance dog (i.e. guide dog), or if you use a wheelchair, please indicate as such in the applications.

If the number of applicants exceeds the capacity of the meeting room, attendees will be selected by lot. (Around 35 attendees will be acceptable.)

The session will be conducted entirely in Japanese and no translation will be provided.
Attendees must follow the chairperson's instructions all times during the session. The use of cameras, video recorders, tape recorders, wireless microphones and other such devices are prohibited during the meeting. Attendees are asked to be seated in the meeting room by 1:50 p.m. Entrance/exit to and from the meeting room during the session is not allowed except in case of emergency.

Attendees wishing to make comments must submit an abstract, in Japanese, to the chairperson by the prescribed deadline. Attendees may not comment beyond what are said at submitted abstract. Attendees are allowed to make or circulate comments through their agents, with the chairperson’s approval.

For further information, please contact the Labeling and Standards Division by telephone at (03) 3502-8111 (ext. 4480) / (03)6744-2096 (dir.) or by fax at (03) 6744-2369.

The mail should be addressed to the following address:
Labelling and Standards Division, Food Safety and Consumers Affairs Bureau
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8950

This is to notify that MAFF will commence to establish the following items regarding the Law for Ensuring the Safety of Pet Food. Those who are interested in this issue may provide questions and/or comments to the Animal Products Safety Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau of MAFF, no later than August 22nd, 2008.
 

1.  Content
   a. Designation of Animal Species regarding Article 2 Item 1 of the Law for Ensuring the Safety of Pet Food (Law No. 83 in 2008)
   b. Special exception for pet food exported from Japan regarding Article 15 of the said law.
    
2. Presentation method of the draft
   Draft will be presented in the procedure of public comment.
     
3. Method to establish public hearing
   Comment will be heard in the procedure of public comment.
     

The mail should be addressed to the following address:
Animal Products Safety Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8950
 
For further information, please contact the Animal Products Safety Division.
Tel. (03)6744-2103
 

Notes: 1. All materials are in Japanese unless otherwise noted.
             2. Contacts may not be able to respond to inquiries in any language except Japanese.