import suspension of heat-processed straw and forage for feed china recalled that following an fmd outbreak in may 2005 in a few chinese provinces japan had issued an overall import suspension of straw and forage for feed from china at the end of may 2005. however the straw and forage exported to japan originated from fmd-free areas and was subject to heat treatment more than sufficient to kill fmd viruses under joint monitoring of chinese and japanese inspectors. japans ban lacked scientific evidence in contravention to the sps agreement. china invited japanese officials to undertake the necessary controls and discussions with the competent departments. japan recalled that it had suspended imports of heat-processed straw and forage from china at the end of may 2005 to respond to repetitive detection of faeces in imported straw and intentional replacement of heat-treated with non heat-treated straw in violation of japans animal health requirements and of article 2.2.10.28 of the oie code. these products had been accompanied by a genuine chinese animal health authority certificate in violation of paragraph 6 of article 1.3.4.72 of the oie code. considering the recent rapid spread of fmd in china japan had suspended importation of heat-processed straw and forage until the chinese government addressed these issues. in june 2006 china recalled that japans measures with regard to import of straw and forage for feed required unnecessary additional assurances exceeding the oie standard. there was no risk of transmission of any disease after straw and forage were heat-treated at a temperature of 80 degrees or more for at least 10 minutes. japan was using the fmd situation in china as an excuse for trade restrictions and was not applying the concept of zoning regionalization as there were no new cases of fmd in the counties where straw and forage were produced. china requested japan to consider the complaints of the chinese industry as well as of japanese importers and to amend its unscientific and unnecessary trade restrictions following oie standards and wto rules. japan observed that any straw and forage other than rice straw were permitted for importation into japan on the condition that pests were not detected in the process of import inspection. regardless of its use in japan the importation of rice straw was prohibited from all countries other than korea democratic peoples republic of korea and chinese taipei. if rice straw went through disinfection treatment such as heat treatment with water vapour it could be imported into japan. in order to prevent the introduction of fmd into japan imports of heat-treated straw and forage for feed from china were permitted only if there was no fmd infection around the areas where raw materials were produced processed and stored and appropriate heat treatment was carried out. japan had to suspend the importation of heat-treated rice straw in may 2005 after repeated violations of the requirements detected at some ports of entry into japan. in addition china had officially notified to the oie the spread of the infected area and an increase in the number of areas of foot and mouth disease. japan had not received sufficient data from china to support the claim that rice straw was produced in disease-free areas. once the data requirements were complete japan would review the situation to decide whether the import suspension could be lifted and whether any other pre-export measures were necessary. in june 2007 china reported that much progress had been made towards the resolution of this concern through bilateral meetings. china had invited three delegations from japan for inspection and had provided all relevant and requested information. six chinese enterprises had been approved by japan to export straw and forage. china hoped that the dozen enterprises still waiting for approval from japan would soon be approved. japan noted that there were two factors that had to be considered the control measures and the co