E-mail:
Country:
Japan
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Food Safety Commission Secretariat,Cabinet Office,
Contact person name:
Kojiro Yokonuma
Website:
Physical full address:
Akasaka 5-2-20 Minato Ward,Tokyo,Japan
Phone number:
81 3 6234 1122
Fax number:
81 3 3584 7392
Country introduction
Summary:
Safety assessments of GM foods are mandatory under the Food Sanitation Law in Japan. The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) legally imposes safety assessments of GM foods so that those that have not undergone safety assessments would not be distributed in the country. MHLW receives application and requests the Food Safety COmmission of Japan (FSCJ) to evaluate the safety of GM foods in terms of human health. Safety assessments are carried out by FSCJ.
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country has competent authority, agency, organization, ministry, department, committee, commission or a system/mechanism that is tasked to conduct or review GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information:
The safety assessment of foods and food additives produced by recombinant DNA techniques (hereafter GM food) is mandatory under the Food Safety Basic Act. The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) receives application from Applicant and requests the Food Safety Commission of Japan (FSCJ) to evaluate the safety of GM food in accordance with the Food Sanitation Act, and the FSCJ evaluates the safety in terms of human health.
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
Assessment
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country regularly conducts food safety assessment of GM food.
Supplemental information on the implementation:
Within the FSCJ, the Expert Committee of Genetically Modified Foods conducts safety assessment based on following standards and policies
(1) Standards for the Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Foods
(2) Policies Regarding the Safety Assessment of Stacked Varieties of Genetically Modified Plants
(3) Standards for the Safety Assessment of Food Additives Produced Using Genetically Modified Microorganisms
(4) Policies Regarding the Safety Assessment of Highly Purified Non-Protein Food Additives including Amino Acids Produced Using Genetically Modified Microorganisms
It is forbidden to import or sell genetically modified foods or food products made from such foods that have not undergone safety assessment. After FSCJ submits a notification to MHLW, MHLW gives notice on the Official Gazette.
Stacked events
Regulation of stacked events:
Others
Supplemental information on the stacked events:
Production and trade
GM food/feed production:
My country produces GM food or feed only for research purposes.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information on the production and trade:
LLP/AP incidents
LLP/AP incidents:
My country has faced LLP/AP situations in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:
Labelling requirement
Labelling requirement:
My country has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation & allows a voluntary and negative labeling on GM food.
Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment
Other relevant documents:
Country information last modified:
27/04/2022
