US beef imports to Japan rise 22% year-on-year in August

TOKYO, Sept. 29 — Overall beef imports from the United States rose 22% in August from a year earlier, despite Tokyo’s introduction of special safeguard (SSG) measures on frozen imports, data from the finance ministry has showed. U.S. beef imports amounted to 18,038 metric tons, the ministry said on Sept. 28. But U.S. frozen beef imports were down 26% to 4,317 metric tons in August compared with the same month a year earlier. Japan invoked the SSG on Aug. 1 to restrict frozen beef imports temporarily by raising the tariff from 38.5 percent to 50 percent, as the imports rose more than 17% year-on-year in the April-June quarter. Meanwhile, U.S. … Continue reading

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Despite scandal, imported rice demand remains high in Japan

TOKYO, Sept. 28 — Demand for imported rice to Japan has been strong, despite tightened rules on auctions following the exposing of a scandal around adjustment money been paid by importers to wholesalers last year. The first round of the so-called simultaneous buy and sell (SBS) tendering system in fiscal 2017 was held on Sept. 27. For 25,000 metric tons of rice quota, a total of 24,998 metric tons of imported rice from all origins was successfully bid during the auction. Valid bids were as high as three times in volume. Japan imports 770,000 metric tons of rice each year under a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement. The majority goes … Continue reading

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EU experts agree to relax Fukushima-made rice restrictions

TOKYO, Sept. 27 — European food safety experts have approved the relaxation of food import restrictions from Japanese regions hit by the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. That will likely pave the way for the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, to allow some Japanese agriculture products, including Fukushima-made rice, to enter the bloc without radiation testing certification. On Sept. 25, the EU standing committee on food safety approved a proposal by the commission to remove radiation testing certification on some foods from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant areas, before they are granted access into European markets. Currently, food imports from the regions need to be accompanied … Continue reading

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GM canola plants found on roadsides across Japan: NGOs

TOKYO, Sept. 24 — Yellow canola plants growing along highways across Japan have been identified as genetically modified, Japanese cooperatives and civil society groups have said. The civil society groups presented the findings at a meeting in Tokyo on Sept. 22. They carried out roadside tests in 37 prefectures in Japan this year and found GM canola in the wild in 11 prefectures, from east to west and south. What’s more, they discovered multiple transgenic traits of canola. They said foreign-made GM canola is seed that has fallen off trucks during transport to refinery factories. They have pressed companies in vain to transport GM canola sealed in road tank cars. … Continue reading

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Japan Flower Growers Association met to discuss strategies for 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics Games

TOKYO, Sep. 28 — Japan Flower Growers Association (JFGA) met on September 27, 2017, to exchange ideas and opinions for promoting the use of Japanese flowers at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics Games among its nine member industrial groups. The association has set up three projects under the following three themes: 1) bouquets for Olympic medalists, 2) bouquets for Paralympics medalists and 3) decorations for the entire event. From now on, it’s going to summarize the ideas and the promotional plans based on the three topics. One of the attendees at the meeting said, “We appreciate having an early prospect to make sure that we provide enough quantity of … Continue reading

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