Act on Ensuring the Proper Domestic Distribution and Importation of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing constitutes one of the most serious threats to the sustainable use of fishery resources. Preventing IUU catches from entering domestic supply chains is recognized as an effective measure to combat IUU fishing. In 2010, the European Union (EU) introduced a European Community catch certification scheme (the EU catch certification scheme), which requires all marine fishery products imported into the EU to be accompanied by catch certificate. In 2018, the United States (US) established reporting and recordkeeping requirements for importing specified seafood species groups under the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP).
Japan, one of the world's largest importers of fishery products, along with the EU and the US, has no specific regulations in place to prevent IUU catches from entering the country except for tuna, tuna-like species, and tooth fish. It exposes Japan to be a potentially attractive market for IUU fishing operators. In recent years, the number of poaching by people who do not have fishing rights such as organized crime groups has been increasing in Japan.
Under these circumstances, the bill for the Act on Ensuring the Proper Domestic Distribution and Importation of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants (the Act) has been unanimously passed and enacted at the 203rd Extraordinary Session of the Diet. The Act was promulgated on December 11, 2020, and is scheduled to enter into force on December 1, 2022.
Documents
- 【Provisional draft English translation】Act on Ensuring the Proper Domestic Distribution and Importation of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants(PDF : 220KB)
- 【Provisional draft English translation】Enforcement Regulation of the Act (Ordinance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) (to be prepared)
- Outline of the Act is described in the INFORMATION NOTE(PDF : 210KB)
1. Regulation on Japanese Domestic Market (Class I Aquatic Animals and Plants)
Class I Aquatic Animals and Plants (Class I) is defined as group of aquatic animals and plants designated by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (the Minister) that are particularly vulnerable to IUU fishing in Japan and in need for conservation and management measures.
When trading Class I in Japan, a business operator shall provide a notification, convey a catch number of Class I, and prepare and retain transaction records of the Class I, including species name, weight or quantity, date(s) of trading(s), trading partner(s), catch number.
In exporting Class I, a legal harvest certificate issued by the Minister which validates that the catch is not in violation of the Fishery Act and other relevant regulations in Japan shall be attached. In order to apply for the certificate, information on the products to be exported, including all the transaction records of the products shall be provided.
This measure does not require foreign governments to take any additional procedures when importing Class I from Japan.
2. Import Regulation "Japan's Catch Documentation Scheme" (Class II Aquatic Animals and Plants)
Class II Aquatic Animals and Plants (Class II) is defined as group of aquatic animals and plants designated by the Minister that are particularly vulnerable to IUU fishing by foreign flagged vessels under foreign laws or international conservation and management measures, which needs to be managed under import regulation.
Class II shall not be imported into Japan without a catch certificate issued by the competent authority of flag State of the vessel catching Class II to certify that they were caught legally and other document(s) provided for in the Ordinance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Ordinance).
Please note that this catch documentation scheme is developed based on the EU catch certification scheme.
Documents
- See TECHNICAL NOTE(ver2.0)(PDF : 621KB) for the details of the catch documentation scheme
- Frequently Asked Questions on the implementation of the catch documentation scheme for technical advice to administrators and operators (to be prepared)
Video
- Please click here to watch a YouTube video which provides an overview of the catch documentation scheme
Information on Flag State notification (List of Flag States and their competent authorities)
Flag States which complete the Flag State notifications and issue the catch certificate
| Flag States | Competent Authorities |
| Argentina | Subsecretario de Pesca y Acuicultura / Dirección Nacional de Coordinación y Fiscalización Pesquera |
| Australia | Australian Fisheries Management Authority Department of Primary Industries New South Wales Victorian Fisheries Authority Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Queensland |
| Bangladesh | Marine Fisheries Office |
| Belgium | Dienst Visserij, Vlaamse Overheid |
| Bulgaria | Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture |
| Chile | NATIONAL FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SERVICE, SERNAPESCA |
| China | Bureau of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs |
| Estonia | Agriculture and Food Board, Ministry of Rural Affairs |
| Finland | Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Southwest Finland The Government of Åland |
| France | Pôle national de validation des certificats de capture à l’export |
| Germany | Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Enährung) |
| Greenland | Greenland Fisheries License Control Authority |
| Iceland | Fiskistofa, Directorate of Fisheries |
| Ireland | Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority |
| India | Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry -Kochi（Regional Division） -Chennai（Regional Division） -Kolkata（Regional Division） -Mumbai（Regional Division） -Visakhapatnam（Regional Division） -Veraval（Regional Division） -Mangalore（Regional Division） -Tuticorin（Sub Regional Division） -Bhubaneswar（Regional Division） -Bhimavaram（Sub Regional Division） -Porbandar（Sub Regional Division） -Hyderabad（Sub Regional Division） -Vijayawada（Regional Division） Commissioner of Fisheries, Government of Gujarat Commissioner of Fisheries, Government of Maharashtra Director of Fisheries, Government of Orissa Director of Fisheries, Department of Fisheries, Government of Karnataka Commissioner of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare & Managing Director, Government of Tamil Nadu, Commissioner of Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh Director of Fisheries, Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Pondicherry, Director of Fisheries, Andaman & Nicobar Island Director of Fisheries, Government of Goa Director of Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries,Government of Kerala Director of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal Director of Fisheries, Administration of Union Territory of Lakshadweep Department of Fisheries Joint Secretary cum Director Fisheries, Union Territory of Daman & Diu |
| Indonesia | Directorate General of Capture Fisheries and 32 Fishing Ports Directorate General of Product Competitiveness |
| Korea | National Fishery Products Quality Management Service |
| Latvia | Ministry of Agriculture |
| Malaysia | Perlis Fisheries State Office, Perlis State Pulau Pinang Fisheries State Office, Pulau Pinang State Seberang Perai Fisheries District Office, Pulau Pinang State Kedah Fisheries State Office, Kedah State Kedah Utara Fisheries District Office, Kedah State Kuala Muda/Yan Fisheries District Office, Kedah State Langkawi Fisheries District Office, Kedah State Perak Fisheries State Office, Perak State Hilir Perak Fisheries District Office, Perak State Kerian Fisheries District Office, Perak State Matang Dan Selama Fisheries District Office, Perak State Selangor Fisheries State Office, Selangor State Negeri Sembilan Fisheries State Office, Negeri Sembilan State Port Dickson Ornamental Fish Center, Negeri Sembilan State Port Dickson Fisheries District Office, Negeri Sembilan State Melaka Fisheries State Office, Melaka State Jasin Fisheries District Office, Melaka State Alor Gajah Fisheries District Office, Melaka State Melaka Tengah Fisheries District Office, Melaka State Johor Fisheries State Office, Johor State Pahang Fisheries State Office, Pahang State Kuantan Fisheries District Office, Pahang State Terengganu Fisheries State Office, Terengganu State Besut Fisheries District Office, Terengganu State Setiu Fisheries District Office, Terengganu State Kuala Nerus Fisheries District Office, Terengganu State Kuala Terengganu Fisheries District Office, Terengganu State Marang Fisheries District Office, Terengganu State Kemaman Fisheries District Office, Terengganu State Kelantan Fisheries State Office, Kelantan State Tumpat Fisheries District Office, Kelantan State Kota Bharu Fisheries District Office, Kelantan State Bachok Fisheries District Office, Kelantan State Pasir Puteh Fisheries District Office, Kelantan State Sarawak Marine Fisheries State Office, Sarawak State Sibu Marine Fisheries State Office, Sarawak State Miri Marine Fisheries State Office, Sarawak State Kabong Marine Fisheries District Office, Sarawak State Tanjung Manis Marine Fisheries District Office, Sarawak State Daro Marine Fisheries District Office, Sarawak State Bintulu Marine Fisheries District Office, Sarawak State Limbang Marine Fisheries District Office, Sarawak State Lawas Marine Fisheries District Office, Sarawak State Sebuyau Marine Fisheries District Office, Sarawak State Sabah Fisheries State Office, Sabah State Likas Fisheries Complex, Sabah State Tawau Fisheries State Office, Sabah State Kudat Fisheries State Office, Sabah State Sandakan Fisheries State Office, Sabah State Kota Kinabalu Fisheries State Office, Sabah State |
| Mexico | COMISIÓN NACIONAL DE ACUACULTURA Y PESCA. -(CONAPESCA), A TRAVÉS DE LA DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE PLANEACIÓN PROGRAMACIÓN Y EVALUACIÓN COMISIÓN NACIONAL DE ACUACULTURA Y PESCA. -(CONAPESCA), A TRAVÉS DE LA DIRECCIÓN DE ASUNTOS INTERNACIONALES |
| Morocco | Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Nador Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Al Hoceima Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Jebha Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de M’diq Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Tanger Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Larache Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Kenitra-Mehdia Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Mohammedia Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Casablanca Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de El-Jadida-Jorf-Lasfar Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Safi Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Essaouira Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Agadir Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Sidi Ifni Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Tan-Tan Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Laâyoune Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Boujdour Délégation des Pêches Maritimes de Dakhla |
| Myanmar | Department of Fisheries and Department of Fisheries, Kawthaung District Office |
| Netherlands | Netherlands Food and Consumer Products Safety Authority Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (NVWA) Single Liaison Office for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing |
| New Zealand | Ministry for Primary Industries |
| Norway | Directorate of Fisheries |
| Pakistan | Marine Fisheries Department |
| Peru | Dirección General de Supervisión, Fiscalización y Sanción, Ministerio de la Producción Dirección Regional de la Producción, Gobierno Regional de Tumbes Dirección Regional de la Producción, Gobierno Regional de Piura Gerencia Regional de Desarrollo Productivo, Gobierno Regional de Lambayeque Gerencia Regional de la Producción La Libertad, Gobierno Regional de La Libertad Gerencia Regional de la Producción, Gobierno Regional de Ancash Gerencia Regional de Desarrollo Económico, Gobierno Regional del Callao Dirección Regional de la Producción, Gobierno Regional de Lima Dirección Regional de la Producción, Gobierno Regional de Ica Gerencia Regional de la Producción, Gobierno Regional de Arequipa Dirección Regional de la Producción, Gobierno Regional de Moquegua Gerencia Regional de la Producción, Gobierno Regional de Tacna |
| Portugal | Direção Geral de Recursos Naturais, Segurança e Serviços Maritimos |
| The Philippines | Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources |
| Poland | Ministerstwo Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi – Departament Rybołówstwa (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development – Fisheries Department) |
| South Africa | Branch: Fisheries Management of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment |
| Spain | SUBDIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE VIGILANCIA PESQUERA Y LUCHA CONTRA LA PESCA ILEGAL |
| Sri Lanka | Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources |
| Sweden | Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management |
| Taiwan | Fisheries Agency, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan (Kaohsiung Headquarters and Taipei office) |
| Thailand | Department of Fisheries |
| Tunisia | Directorate General for Fisheries and Aquaculture（Central level） District of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Tabarka（Regional level） District of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Bizerte（Regional level） District of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Tunis（Regional level） District of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Kelibia（Regional level） District of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Sousse（Regional level） District of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Monastir（Regional level） District of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Mahdia（Regional level） Division of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Sfax（Regional level） District of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Gabes（Regional level） Division of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Mednine（Regional level） |
| United Kingdom | Marine Management Organisation, England Marine Scotland, Scotland Marine and Fisheries Division, Welsh Government, Wales DAERA Marine and Fisheries Division, Fisheries Inspectorate Team, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland Fisheries Directorate, Department Environment Food and Agriculture, Isle of Man Seafisheries, Committee for Economic Development, Guernsey Marine Resources, Growth Housing and Environment, Jersey |
| USA | NOAA Seafood Inspection Program |
| Vietnam | Directorate of Fisheries Department of Capture Fisheries under Directorate of Fisheries Quang Ninh Sub-Department of Fisheries Hai Phong Sub-Department of Fisheries Nam Dinh Sub-Department of Fisheries Nghe An Sub-Department of Fisheries Hà Tĩnh Sub-Department of Fisheries Quang Tri Sub-Department of Fisheries Thua Thien Hue Sub-Department of Fisheries Da Nang Sub-Department of Fisheries Quang Ngai Sub-Department of Fisheries Binh Dinh Sub-Department of Fisheries Phu Yen Sub-Department of Fisheries Khanh Hoa Sub-Department of Fisheries Binh Thuan Sub-Department of Fisheries Ba Ria-Vung Tau Sub-Department of Fisheries Ho Chi Minh City Sub-Department of Fisheries Tien Giang Sub-Department of Fisheries Ben Tre Sub-Department of Fisheries Tra Vinh Sub-Department of Fisheries Soc Trang Sub-Department of Fisheries Bac Lieu Sub-Department of Fisheries Kien Giang Sub-Department of Fisheries Ca Mau Sub-Department of Fisheries |
Flag States under consultation procedure (To be prepared)
お問合せ先
Contact
Fisheries Proper Distribution Promotion Office
Fisheries Processing Industries and Marketing Division
Fisheries Agency of Japan, Government of Japan
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8907 JAPAN
Tel : +81-3-6744-2511 FAX : +81-3-3508-1357
E-mail : tekiseika_suisan@maff.go.jp
