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Japan
Codex Contact Point
Director, Office for Resources, Policy Division, Science and Technology Policy Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 3-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8959, Japan Tel: +81 3 5253 4111
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
National legislation on food safety: FAOLEX

Competent authorities

Name of authority
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)
Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA)
Mandate/competence
MAFF is responsible for risk management related to agriculture and forestry, livestock management, and fisheries. http://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/food_safety/index.html
MHLW is responsible for risk management related to food hygiene. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/shokuhin/index_00006.html
CAA is responsible for management related to labelling of food items. https://www.caa.go.jp/en/
INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point
Office of International Food Safety, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +81-3-5253-2326

Food safety and consumer protection – laws and regulations

The current list of legislation, related to food safety and consumer protection in each country, is extracted from FAO's database on Food Legislation FAOLEX.
While FAOLEX makes every effort to serve as a high quality, reliable source of information, no guarantee is given that the information provided in FAOLEX is correct, complete, and up-to-date.

The national Codex programme

National Codex consultative mechanism
Japan has established a national consultative council that consists of consumers, industries and academia. Meetings of the council are held regularly in order to have consultations and to share information on Codex activities and discussions.
Providers of scientific and technical input to national consultation on Codex
We consider our position based on inputs from relevant government organizations, consumers, industries and academia and other stakeholders.

Risk Assessments and Scientific Data

National bodies providing risk assessment and scientific advice
Food Safety Commission, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (FSCJ)
Risk assessment, risk profiles, scientific opinions
Risk assessments conducted by FSCJ are available on the following webpage. https://www.fsc.go.jp/english/index.html
Official Laboratory
National Institute of Health Sciences http://www.nihs.go.jp/english/index.html
National Institute of Infectious Diseases https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/en/
National Veterinary Assay Laboratory http://www.maff.go.jp/nval/english/index.html
National Agriculture and Food Research Organization http://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/english/index.html
Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center http://www.famic.go.jp/english/index.html
Official Competence

Surveillance of foodborne diseases and monitoring of food contamination

National surveillance systems – foodborne disease in humans
The MHLW and local governments have monitoring and surveillance systems in place for food safety. The MHLW provides consumers and business operators with information based on the latest findings to help them deepen understanding about food hygiene and safety to ensure the prevention of food poisoning outbreaks. In case of an outbreak, the MHLW will work together with relevant local governments to identify the cause and to try to stop the outbreaks in the early stages.
National monitoring systems – foodborne hazards in the food chain
The MHLW and local governments have monitoring and surveillance systems in place for food safety. The MHLW provides consumers and business operators with information based on the latest findings to help them deepen understanding about food hygiene and safety to ensure the prevention of food poisoning outbreaks. In case of an outbreak, the MHLW will work together with relevant local governments to identify the cause and to try to stop the outbreaks in the early stages.