THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community Code relating to medicinal products for human use (1), and in particular Article 111b(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) In accordance with Article 111b(1) of Directive 2001/83/EC a third country may request the Commission to assess whether its regulatory framework applicable to active substances exported to the Union and the respective control and enforcement activities ensure a level of protection of public health equivalent to that of the Union in order to be included in a list of third countries ensuring an equivalent level of protection of public health.
(2) Japan requested, by letter dated 6 December 2012, to be listed in accordance with Article 111b(1) of Directive 2001/83/EC. The equivalence assessment by the Commission confirmed that the requirements of that Article were fulfilled.
(3) Commission Implementing Decision 2012/715/EU of 22 November 2012 establishing a list of third countries with a regulatory framework applicable to active substances for medicinal products for human use and the respective control and enforcement activities ensuring a level of protection of public health equivalent to that in the Union, in accordance with Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) should be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

The Annex to Implementing Decision 2012/715/EU is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.