STC Number - 162
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Fumigation standards

Maintained by: Japan
Raised by: United States of America
Supported by:
First date raised: April 2003 G/SPS/R/29 paras. 31-32
Dates subsequently raised:
Number of times subsequently raised: 0
Relevant documents: Raised orally
Products covered: 08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons; 1006 Rice.
Primary subject keyword: Plant Health
Keywords: Plant health
Status: Resolved
Solution: In October 2013, information was received from the United States on the resolution of this STC (RD/SPS/114, of 29 October 2020).
Date reported as resolved: 16/10/2013

Extracts from SPS Committee meeting summary reports

In April 2003, the United States reported that a newly adopted measure by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food prohibited the re-fumigation of fruit or rice which had previously undergone fumigation in the United States. Japan had not notified this measure to the SPS Committee and requested clarification from Japan as to the objective of the measure, its scope, implementation, enforcement and projected trade effects. Due to the lack of notification of the measure, the United States requested a delay in its implementation so as to allow sufficient time for WTO Members to comment on the proposal.

Japan stated that he would transmit the US concern to his authorities and respond in due course.

In October 2013, the Secretariat informed that in September 2013 it had contacted all Members who had raised specific trade concerns (STCs) that had not been discussed in the previous year, to request an update on their status. In furtherance of this request, information was received from the United States on the resolution of this STC. In November 2020, the Secretariat indicated that the information received had been circulated in document RD/SPS/114, of 29 October 2020, and that the SPS IMS would be updated on this basis, using the date of the October 2013 SPS Committee meeting as the date of resolution of the relevant STCs.