Japan proposing removal of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the 56 agricultural chemicals due to lack of data

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (MHLW) will withdraw all the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the following 56 agricultural chemicals due to lack of data. The 56 agricultural chemicals are not registered or approved in Japan, and/or do not have any Codex MRLs. Some countries set MRLs for some of these chemicals, but the MHLW could not confirm sufficient data for risk assessment and MRL setting. Those MRLs were provisionally set without full risk assessment over ten years ago, and it is difficult to maintain those MRLs anymore unless sufficient data for risk assessment and MRL setting are provided. Therefore the MHLW has decided to delete all the MRLs for the 56 substances.

Those substances have not been detected in any imported foods in Japan for the last five years according to monitoring data on agricultural chemicals residue conducted by the MHLW. Japan is of the view that the deletion of the MRLs is unlikely to have negative impact on the current international trade.

Pesticides: 2-(1-Naphthyl)acetamide, 2,2-DPA, Bensulide, Butroxydim, Carbetamide, Carbonyl sulphide, Chloroneb, Clodinafop acid, Cycloate, Endothal, Florasulam, Flupropanate, Furathiocarb, Imazamethabenz methyl ester, Metosulam, Naphthalophos, Oxabetrinil, Oxycarboxin, Pebulate, Phosphamidon, Pyrithiobac-sodium, Sec-Butylamine, Tebuthiuron, Terbutryn, Tolyfloxysulfuron 

Pesticide/Veterinary drugs: Azamethiphos, Phenothrin, Tetrachlorvinphos 

Veterinary drugs: Aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, Aspoxicillin, Baquiloprim, Buquinolate, Cefacetrile, Famphur, Fenprostalene, Haloxon, Kitasamycin, Laidlomycin, Methylbenzoquate(Nequinate), Metoserpate hydrochloride, Novobiocin, Oxacillin, Polymyxine B, Sulfabenzamide, Sulfabromomethazine sodium, Sulfacetamide, Sulfaethoxypyridazine, Sulfaguanidine, Sulfamerazine, Sulfamethoxypyridazine, Sulfanilamide, Sulfanitran, Sulfapyridine, Sulfatroxazole, Temephos, Tripelennamine 

Products covered:

• Meat and edible meat offal (HS Codes: 02.01, 02.02, 02.03, 02.04, 02.05, 02.06, 02.07, 02.08 and 02.09)
•  Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS Codes: 03.02, 03.03, 03.04, 03.06 and 03.07)
• Dairy produce, birds' eggs and natural honey (HS Codes: 04.01, 04.07 and 04.08)
• Products of animal origin (HS Code: 05.04)
• Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers (HS Codes: 07.01, 07.02, 07.03, 07.04, 07.05, 07.06, 07.07, 07.08, 07.09, 07.10, 07.13 and 07.14)
• Edible fruits and nuts, peel of citrus/melons (HS Codes: 08.01, 08.02, 08.03, 08.04, 08.05, 08.06, 08.07, 08.08, 08.09, 08.10, 08.11 and 08.14)
• Coffee, tea, mate and spices (HS Codes: 09.01, 09.02, 09.03, 09.04, 09.05, 09.06, 09.07, 09.08, 09.09 and 09.10)
• Cereals (HS Codes: 10.01, 10.02, 10.03, 10.04, 10.05, 10.06, 10.07 and 10.08)
• Oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits (HS Codes: 12.01, 12.02, 12.04, 12.05, 12.06, 12.07, 12.10 and 12.12)
• Animal or vegetable fats and oils (HS Codes: 15.01, 15.02 and 15.06)
• Cacao and cacao preparations (HS Code: 18.01)

Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): As soon as possible after the final date for the comment period.

Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): As soon as possible after the final date for the comment period.

Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): These proposed standards will take effect after a certain period of grace.

Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 6 October 2017 

If the Proposal/Notification/Regulation will affect your International Business please send us your representation with facts and figures , so that these can be taken up suitably.