Category Archives: Farm Policy

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 →

TOKYO, Nov. 15 ― Japan will likely bring up to 7,300 foreign workers into the country’s farm sector in a new approach to immigration in the first year, a simulation by the government has showed. The parliament at the current extraordinary session is set to deliberate the draft legislation to accept more foreign blue-collar workers from April next year, a controversial move for the country that is known for its strict immigration rules. The draft legislation is designed to tackle the labor shortage in 14 sectors, including agriculture, social care and construction, in the face of the country’s aging population. Under the new bill, foreign nationals with skills in the … Continue reading →

BEIJING, Nov. 11 ― Japan, China and South Korea have agreed to boost border control, as livestock infectious diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and deadly African swine fever have been recorded across the globe in recent years. “We need to deepen mutual cooperation on many fronts,” Japanese Agriculture Minister Takamori Yoshikawa said at a joint press conference after the trilateral agriculture ministers’ meeting in Beijing that wrapped up on Nov. 10. A joint statement adopted by the three said: “Given the increasing threat of Transboundary Animal Diseases such as African swine fever, cooperation for effective border control among three countries needs to be strengthened.” The meeting came at a time … Continue reading →