1.

Notifying Member: JAPAN

If applicable, name of local government involved:

2.

Agency responsible: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

3.

Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Meat and meat products derived from cloven-hoofed animals

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[ ] All trading partners

[X] Specific regions or countries: Germany, and countries, regions or zones approved as free from FMD by Japan

 https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/news/third-free.html

5.

Title of the notified document: Import suspension of beef and beef offal from Germany and import suspension from facilities handling cloven-hoofed animals of German origin. Language(s): . Number of pages:

6.

Description of content: In order to prevent the introduction of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) virus into Japan, MAFF has suspended the import of beef and beef offal from Germany, including those shipped through third countries, on 11 January 2025 based on the "Animal health requirements for beef and beef offal to be exported to Japan from Germany" and the Articles 37 and 44 of the "Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control".

Based on the Animal Health Requirements established between Japan and each exporting country, facilities that handle cloven-hoofed animals of German origin, as well as their meat and offal, are not permitted to produce or manufacture products to be exported to Japan, and each exporting country must notify Japan of this export suspension immediately.

7.

Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.

8.

Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: An outbreak of FMD was confirmed in Buffaloes in Hoppegarten, Märkisch-Oderland, Brandenburg, on 10 January 2025.

9.

Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:

[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text):

[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number): Chapter 8.8. " Infection with foot and mouth disease virus"

[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number):

[ ] None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?

[X] Yes   [ ] No

If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:

10.

Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: Current "Animal health requirements for beef and beef offal to be exported to Japan from Germany".

https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/hou/require/pdf/de_beef_ahrs.pdf

(available in English and Japanese)

11.

Date of entry into force (dd/mm/yy)/period of application (as applicable): 11 January 2025

[ ] Trade facilitating measure

12.

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

Japan Enquiry Point

International Trade Division

Economic Affairs Bureau

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Fax: +(8131) 5501 8343

E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp

13.

Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

Japan Enquiry Point

International Trade Division

Economic Affairs Bureau

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Fax: +(8131) 5501 8343

E-mail: enquiry@mofa.go.jp