On March 22,2023,Japans Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare issued Notice No.1,abolishing the import inspection measures listed in the annex,including the removal of import inspection measures for Chinese edible sea urchins.This was implemented based on inspections at the time of import or problem occurrence information from overseas.After cancellation,import supervision and management will be conducted according to general inspection measures.

On March 29,2023,Japans Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare issued Notice No.1 (Drug and Food Safety Division Notification 0329),lifting the mandatory inspection for aflatoxin in Chinese Sichuan peppercorns and simple products (limited to those containing 30% or more Sichuan peppercorns).This removes the inspection requirement from Annex 1 of the FY2022 Import Food Mandatory Inspection Plan.

Among the revisions to the standards for food and food additives,an important change is the amendment of testing methods for components such as nitarsone in food.Additionally,this announcement takes effect from the date of issuance,with changes to the maximum residue limits for veterinary drugs like sulfathiazole becoming effective one year after the announcement date.