Prohibitive import, testing and certification procedures

Committee:
Retail & Wholesale
status:
Some progress
Published:
Despite improvement in the recent years and more and more international harmonisation, Japan still retains some testing and standards that are unique to Japan. This means that products in those will have to undergo duplicate testing and in extreme cases have to re-designed for the Japanese market. The EBC requests that more overseas approvals are recognised.

Recommendations

  • MHLW should make certain that the current draft positive list for food contact products is harmonised with other countries. It is furthermore of important that the list is also offered in English.
  • Japan should accept inclusion of common non-SI units on measuring devices when SI units are also used. Examples of this would be Fahrenheit or miles per hour. There are already alternative non-SI units in use such as for pressure and in the aeronautic field.
  • Deliberations on the upcoming policies on children’s products should take in consideration European testing and approval schemes. Japan should avoid establishing a unique system for the domestic market.