TOKYO, Nov. 24 ― Japan’s food exports rose for the seventh consecutive month in September, thanks to largely to appetite for wagyu beef and fruits in neighboring Asian countries, official data has showed. Total shipments of agriculture products, processed foods and seafood soared 14% to 79.2 billion yen in September from a year earlier, according to the agriculture ministry. The primary agricultural products, which constitute half of total agricultural exports, increased 14% to 48.7 billion yen. Among those products, wagyu beef rose 18 to 2 billion yen, partly due to a rapid growth in Taiwan after the neighboring Asian country lifted 16-year bans on imports of the meat from Japan … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Nov. 21 ― In the wake of an outbreak of classical swine fever, also known as hog cholera, in domestic pigs in central Japan, the agriculture ministry has been calling on local governments to increase surveillance and preventative measures of the infectious disease. On Sept. 9, the ministry reported a case of classical swine fever at a farm in Gifu prefecture for the first time in 26 years. The remaining 610 pigs were culled to contain the outbreak and depopulation of the farm was completed. As a result, Japan suspended exports of pork and other pork products. Classical swine fever occurs among pigs and wild boar and is not … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 – The United Nations General Assembly adopted on Dec. 18 Japan time the Declaration for the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas which recognizes and protects the rights of small-scale and family farmers. The declaration, which was passed with 121 votes in favor, aims to encourage all U.N. member nations to better protect rights of farmers and allow them to attain an adequate standard of living, as well as providing support to unions and cooperatives for such people. As in November when the declaration was up for voting at the U.N. General Assembly’s Third Committee, Japan abstained. The declaration recognizes the importance … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Nov. 17 ― Japanese farmers as well as food makers will have an easier time exporting their products, as two Japanese food certificate programs have been recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), a key step to boost exports of Japanese food products. The GFSI is a food industry-driven global collaboration to advance food safety and provide continuous improvement in food safety management systems around the world. The Japanese agriculture announced on Nov. 16 that the ASIAGAP certification, or an Asian version of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), and the JFS-C have been accepted by the GFSI. The GFSI-accepted food safety management standards have become important requirements for satisfying … Continue reading →