On Friday, June 17, 2016, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) of the Government of Japan (GOJ) announced changes to the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for the pesticides Bicyclopyrone, 1,3-Dichloropropene, Ethofumesate, Etofenprox, Fluazifop-butyl, and Isopyrazam, and for the veterinary drugs Erythromycin, Flumethrin, Metoclopramide, Piperazine, and Vedaprofen.
MHLW also established analytical methods for agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food for Ipronidazole, Kimetridazole, Metronidazole, Ronidazole, Chlorampheicol, and for Captafol in animal and fishery products.
The Embassy comment period for these proposals is open until Friday, July 1, 2016. MHLW will also notify these MRLs to the WTO, which will allow another opportunity for interested parties to comment on these changes. Japan has previously notified proposed revisions to Etofenprox (JPN/SPS/435)
and Fluazifop-butyl (JPN/SPS/458).
The MHLW has comprehensively reviewed existing MRLs to modify those that were provisionally set at the introduction of the system. In addition, the MHLW is going to establish MRLs for some commodities. This activity has been targeted at following agricultural chemicals:
Pesticide: Bicyclopyrone, 1,3-Dichloropropene, Ethofumesate, Etofenprox, Fluazifop-butyl, Isopyrazam
Veterinary drug: Erythromycin, Flumethrin, Metoclopramide, Piperazine, Vedaprofen