2012-03-06
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The Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which was adopted at an international conference on biodiversity held in the central Japanese city of Nagoya in 2010, takes effect 90 days after 40 signatories ratify it. Forty-six countries and regions have so far signed the pact, which has been open for signature at the U.N. headquarters in New York over a period of one year since March last year, and two of them have ratified it. Japan will sign the pact later in the day, and prepare for ratifying it, the officials said.
2012-02-04
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They are the only gene-altered fruit on the market today in Japan, a country with strict laws regarding genetically-modified organisms. [...] U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist Dennis Gonsalves, who helped develop the new fruit variety, may be its best salesman. [...]
Gonsalves calls it the ”Super Bowl” of marketing challenges: getting a population that’s still widely skeptical of genetic-engineering technology to enjoy a beautiful, delicious papaya with a GMO label on it.
2012-02-01
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After 13 years of negotiations, Japan has approved its first shipment of genetically-modified Rainbow papayas from Hawaii. ”The fact that the Japanese have tested it to the nth degree and evaluated its food and environmental safety proves it’s a good product,” said Rod Yonemura, consultant to the 160-member Hawaii Papaya Industry Association based in Hilo, capital of Hawaii’s Big Island. The Dec. 5 shipment consisted of 1,248 5-pound cases for sale and 32 cases for sampling at Coastco Japan, Yonemura said.
2012-01-06
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The Japanese government has granted approval for the commercial shipments of genetically modified ‘Rainbow’ papaya from Hawaii, according to a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service report. “This announcement marks the end of a long process that began back in 1999, and the beginning of a new chapter for Hawaiian papaya growers,” the report stated. “The approval of Rainbow papaya is significant because it is the first horticultural biotech product and the first direct-to-consumer food product to gain regulatory approval in Japan.”
2011-11-22
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If Japan enters the Trans-Pacific Partnership, will domestic labeling of genetically modified products disappear? It is indeed possible.
Japan can prevent this, but if labeling does disappear, what will happen? [...] In a recent meeting of the House of Representative Budget Committee, Japanese Communist Party member Akira Kasai suggested that Japan could come under pressure to remove labeling of genetically modified foods if it entered the free trade accord. Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba responded, “It’s possible, but we will not accept that.”
2011-11-14
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Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda postponed the announcement of his decision Thursday that Japan would join negotiations on a US-backed trade deal as a cross-party group of Japanese parliamentarians submitted a resolution, protesting his expected move. [...] The chairman of the Japan Business Federation, Hiromasa Yonekura, said Monday that Japan had to join the negotiations as it is lagging behind other countries in forming economic alliances.
Critics have pointed out that Yonekura is chairman of Sumitomo Chemical Co, which could stand to gain from the pact, as it would facilitate the company’s strategic partnership with US agrochemicals supplier Monsanto Co.
2011-11-09
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Hawaiian biotech papaya is the first direct to consumer biotech product approved by Japan. Other biotech products have been approved for years, but they were all either used for further processing, an ingredient, or for animal feeds. USDA/FAS Tokyo estimates that in the medium term, Hawaii papaya exports could once again reach its potential of $20 million per year.
The question remains, even after the approval is granted: will the Japanese consumer accept GMO labeled fresh papaya from Hawaii? It is too early to say. But if biotech fresh produce can “make it” in Japan, it can make it anywhere.
2011-11-03
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Hawaiian biotech papaya is the first direct to consumer biotech product approved by Japan. Other biotech products have been approved for years, but they were all either used for further processing, an ingredient, or for animal feeds. USDA/FAS Tokyo estimates that in the medium term, Hawaii papaya exports could once again reach its potential of $20 million per year.
The question remains, even after the approval is granted: will the Japanese consumer accept GMO labeled fresh papaya from Hawaii? It is too early to say. But if biotech fresh produce can “make it” in Japan, it can make it anywhere.
2011-03-30
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A group of Japanese researchers plans to apply later this year for approval to sell a drug made from genetically modified strawberries to cure gum disease in dogs. The use of genetically modified farm products in the development of drugs could cut total costs by a thousandth, the developers from three entities including the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology said recently.
2011-01-12
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Japan’s National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations said Tuesday it has tied up with U.S. chemical firm DuPont Co.’s seed division to secure stable supplies of non-genetically modified corn. Under a five-year contract, the federation, known as JA Zen-Noh, will commission Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. to develop non-genetically modified corn seeds and will provide the seeds to U.S. farmers in a bid to import non-genetically modified feed corn into Japan.
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