Japan |Partial Amendment of Specifications And Standards for Foods, Food additives, etc.

Ng Sok-Han
Oct 27, 2022
3 min read

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced on 26 October 2022 (under MHLW Notification No. 318 of 2022) a partial amendment of Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food additives etc. (Act No. 370 of 1959 ) to revise the maximum residue limits (MRL) of Afidopyropen, Ampicillin, Cyantraniliprole, Cyfluthrin, Tetraniliprole, Bacitracin, Picoxystrobin, Phenoxymethylpenicillin, Flufenoxuron, Pencycuron, Lubabegron and Abscisic acid based on Article 13, Paragraph 1 of the Food Sanitation Act (Act No. 233 of 1947 ). Additionally, they have added Abscisic acid to the list of exempt substances that are deemed to be harmless to the human health pursuant to the provisions of article 13(3) Of The Food Sanitation Act under MHLW Notification No. 319 of 2022. Calcium L-tartrate was added to Annex 1 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act for the list of additives that pose no risk of harming human health.

Main revisions:

1) Calcium L-tartrate was added to Annex 1 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act for the list of additives that pose no risk of harming human health

Operational precautions for the below food additives:

(a) Calcium L-tartrate and Potassium ferrocyanide should be used under appropriate manufacturing process control and should not exceed the amount required to obtain the desired effect in food.

(b) Wine refers to fruit wine as defined in Article 3, Item 13 of the Liquor Tax Law (Act No. 6 of 1953) or sweet fruit wine as defined in Article 3, Item 14 of the same article, and is made mainly from grapes.

2. Maximum Residue Limits (MRL)

Partial amendments has been made for the MRL of Afidopyropen, Ampicillin, Cyantraniliprole, Cyfluthrin, Tetraniliprole, Bacitracin, Picoxystrobin, Phenoxymethylpenicillin, Flufenoxuron, Pencycuron, Lubabegron and Abscisic acid.

3. Addition of Abscisic acid to the list of exempted substances.

Benzoic acid was added to the List of Substances Specified By The Minister Of Health, Labour And Welfare As Substances That Are Clearly Not Harmful To Human Health Pusuant To The Provision Of Article 13(3) Of The Food Sanitation Act.

Applicable Date:

This amendment shall apply from the day of notice. However, for the below food listed for each agricultural chemical etc., existing standards can still be used within one year from the announcement of this notification.

[Source document]:

［令和4年10月26日生食発1026第1号］

食品、添加物等の規格基準の一部を改正する件について（アフィドピロペン、アンピシリン、シアントラニリプロール、シフルトリン、テトラニリプロール、バシトラシン、ピコキシストロビン、フェノキシメチルペニシリン、フルフェノクスロン、ペンシクロン、ルバベグロン、アブシシン酸）

Partial revision of specifications and standards for foods, additives, etc. (MHLW No. 1026 No. 1 of 2022) - Afidopyropen, Ampicillin, Cyantraniliprole, Cyfluthrin, Tetraniliprole, Bacitracin, Picoxystrobin, Phenoxymethylpenicillin, Flufenoxuron, Pencycuron, Lubabegron, Abscisic acid) and the Partial Amendment of Substances Specified By The Minister Of Health, Labour And Welfare As Substances That Are Clearly Not Harmful To Human Health Pursuant To The Provision Of Article 13(3) Of The Food Sanitation Act

Partial revision of specifications and standards for foods, additives, etc. (MHLW Notification No. 318 of 2022) - Afidopyropen, Ampicillin, Cyantraniliprole, Cyfluthrin, Tetraniliprole, Bacitracin, Picoxystrobin, Phenoxymethylpenicillin, Flufenoxuron, Pencycuron, Lubabegron, Abscisic acid)

Partial Amendment of Substances Specified By The Minister Of Health, Labour And Welfare As Substances That Are Clearly Not Harmful To Human Health Pursuant To The Provision Of Article 13(3) Of The Food Sanitation Act (MHLW Notification No. 319 of 2022)

Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Amendment of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act (MHLW Ordinance No. 151 of 2022)

Substances Specified By The Minister Of Health, Labour And Welfare As Substances That Are Clearly Not Harmful To Human Health Pursuant To The Provision Of Article 13(3) Of The Food Sanitation Act (MHLW Notification No. 498 of 2005)(Updated as of 26 October 2022)