Report Highlights:
Report Highlights: Japan, as one of the largest importers of US agricultural biotechnology products from the U.S., has approved 75 biotech events for food, 59 for feed and 55 for planting. Japan does not produce any biotech products commercially but does have several products under development. Japan ratified the Biosafety Protocol in November 2003 and has implemented mandatory biotech labeling on certain foods containing biotech derived ingredients. In general, biotech products are not well received by the Japanese food industry or consumers. This report contains updated information on the approved biotech products, the biotech products under field trials and the field trial conditions, as of March 3, 2006.
SECTION I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Japan is one of the largest importers of U.S. agricultural products, importing around 16 million metric tons of corn and 4.5 million metric tons of soybeans, two major biotechnology plant products, from the U.S. per year.The Japanese government has taken extensive measures to address regulatory and public concerns; including biotech labeling, mandatory safety food and feed review systems as well as domestic regulations pertaining to the Biosafety Protocol based environmental review system.Japan ratified the Biosafety Protocol on November 21, 2003.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) is responsible for food safety assurances of biotechnology products, while Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) are in charge of feed and environmental safety.The Food Safety Commission (FSC), a risk assessment government body established in July 2003, performs food and feed safety risk assessment for MHLW and MAFF.Japan has approved 75 biotechnology events for food, 59 for feed and 55 for planting.Import of biotechnology events that have not obtained the necessary approvals is strictly prohibited.
Japan is not commercially producing biotechnology plants.A number of public research institutes are carrying out research on the development of plant biotechnology but has not progressed to the field trial stage because of strong consumer concern over biotech products.The private industry is generally limiting its research to the basic level but one company has developed a uniquely colored (blue) carnation but it is grown abroad and imported into Japan.
Japan requires biotech labeling on food products in which traces of biotechnology derived DNA or protein is found.Food manufacturers of those subject to the labeling, without exception, request U.S. suppliers to provide non-biotechnology products based on IP handling.To be labeled as non-biotech, documentation of IP handling is required.Many manufacturers of foods outside the labeling requirement, such as oil, utilize biotech products, however many others such as the end users of corn sweeteners, often request non-biotech products.These end products are then labeled as non-biotech as a marketing tool.The Japanese food industry and the public are reluctant to accept agricultural biotechnology products.This situation can change over take time by educating the consumer to the safety and benefits of biotechnology.The availability of biotech products with consumer benefits will also help speed acceptance.(Information in the table of approved biotech products, biotech products under field trials, and field trial conditions were last updated on March 3, 2006.)
SECTION II. BIOTECHNOLOGY TRADE AND PRODUCTION
Biotechnology crop production in Japan
There is no substantial commercial production of biotech crops in Japan.There had been a few farmers “experimentally” growing biotech soybeans in Japan in order to confirm their benefits but they terminated their experiments before the crops flowered in order to avoid concerns about cross contamination from surrounding farmers and agricultural coops who oppose biotech crops.Some localities, including the Hokkaido Prefecture have passed resolutions banning all biotech crop production.
Biotech crop development in Japan
Japan is one of the leading countries in the world in the field of biotech research.A number of public research institutes are actively engaging in plant and industrial biotech research and development.However agricultural biotechnology severely lags behind and there are no new food products in the pipeline for commercialization because of strong anti-biotech concerns among consumers Japan.Ongoing research includes the introduction of fungal resistance and pollen allergy suppressing traits into rice.Most of this research is at the early experimental stage and has not progressed to the field trial stage.Taking into consideration the time required to obtain necessary regulatory approvals, it will be years before these products can commercially available.Private industry is generally limiting its research to the basic stage.A uniquely colored (blue) carnation developed by genetic recombination is commercially available by Suntory Co. but it is grown abroad and imported into Japan.
Import of biotech crops
Japan is one of the largest food importers in the world with around 40% of its food being imported (on an energy supply base).Japan particularly relies heavily on imports for corn and soybeans, two major biotech crops produced in the U.S.Japan also imports canola mainly from Canada, which is a major biotech crops produced in Canada.
In order to avoid having to label foods as “ containing biotech” almost all retailers require that food use corn and soybeans be supplied as IP handled non-biotech products.The US supplies about 95% of Japan’s 16 million MT of corn imports per year.Corn for feed consisting accounts for 12 million MT of the total 16 million MT, which is bulk general corn not segregating biotech corn events with the remainder being non-biotech corn for food uses.
For soybeans, Japan imports about 4.5 million MT per year that includes 3.5 million MT from the U.S.Around 3.5 million MT of soybeans are used for crushing annually.Since vegetable oil is exempted from the labeling, almost all of the soybeans imported for crushing are bulk general shipments not segregating biotech products.The soybean food industry (tofu, etc) demands soybean importers supply non-biotech food beans to be used as raw ingredients alongside the 0.2 million MT of domestically produced non-biotech soybeans.