MAFF UPDATE No.703 (Published on SEPTEMBER 12, 2008)

MAFF will hold a session of the Subcommittee of the Council for Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) at 2:00 p.m. on October 3rd, 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 consists of two parts and will consider the following:
 

1. First part (Start at 2:00 p.m.)
   Japanese Agricultural Standards to be revised for:
   a. Refined lard, 
   b. Processed tomato products.
   
   Quality Labeling Standards to be revised for:
   a. Refined lard, 
   b. Processed tomato products.
    
2. Second part (Scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.)
   Japanese agricultural standards to be established for,
   Processed food distributed under controlled temperatures (tentative name).

Committee members for the first part will be replaced with those for the second part during a short intermission between the two parts. Those who wish to listen to the discussion are asked to apply by indicating which part you wish to listen to; “First part only”, “Second part only”, “both parts”.
 
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 envelop(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 September 25th, 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.
 
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 (4480) or by fax at (03) 6744-2369.
The mail should be addressed to the following address:
Labeling and Standards Division, Food Safety and Consumers Affairs Bureau
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8950

Subcommittee of the JAS Council:
http://www.maff.go.jp/j/jas/kaigi/bukai.html

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.