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Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in Japan has announced an agreement with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to lower High Pathogenic Avian Influenza related trade restrictions on U.S. poultry products exported to Japan, starting April 3rd.

On March 20, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) added a waxy corn product to their lists of genome edited products not subject to regulations for genetically engineered food, feed, and biodiversity.

This report highlights Japan’s food processing industry, notable trends, and a market snapshot of western Japan.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 11 agricultural chemicals (Ametoctradin, Amisulbrom, Flumioxazin, Flupyradifurone, Glufosinate, Mefentrifluconazole, Metaldehyde, Simeconazole, Cefuroxime, Dicloxacillin, and Amprolium) for various agricultural commodities.

FAS/Tokyo projects reduced corn imports and feed consumption in MY2022/23 due to large outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza as well as increased competition from domestic feed rice, followed by a recovery of corn consumption in MY2023/24.

Japan is one of the world’s leading consumers of seafood. In 2022, it imported $15 billion of seafood products, making it the world’s third largest importer. Half of Japan’s seafood demand is met by imports. The United States is the third largest seafood supplier to Japan, specializing in salmon, cod, pollock, herring, crab, and lobster.

On December 27, 2022, the Government of Japan (GOJ) released the “Food Security Reinforcement Policy Framework,” which aims to lower Japan's dependence on imports and to push increased domestic production of wheat, soybeans, feed grains, hay, and fertilizer inputs.

Cattle stocks decline in 2023 as farmers thin dairy herds to counter surplus production capacity. The resulting increase in domestic beef production will lower demand for imports in 2023.

The report contains a provisional translation of the draft Notification 3.0 under the Sophisticated Act that proposes Japan's new transport biofuel standards from April 1, 2023. The draft notification is open for public comment until March 2, 2023.

Japan has a well-developed food retail market that demands high-quality, high-value agricultural and food products. Despite reduced economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, trade data show that agricultural imports have remained resilient.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 9 agricultural chemicals (Iprodione, Metobromuron, Paraquat dichloride (Paraquat), Pyridachlometyl, Isoprothiolane, Diminazene, Dipropyl isocinchomeronate, Mafoprazine, and Pyrimethamine) for various agricultural commodities.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) published a draft notification for biofuel standards from Japanese fiscal year 2023 through 2027.