Browse Data and Analysis

The Government of Japan (GOJ) has opened the public comment period for the “amendment of positive list of synthetic resins used for food apparatus, containers, and packaging.”

Despite the challenges posed during COVID-19, Western Japan’s hotel industry has recovered to pre-pandemic levels largely due the influx of inbound travelers seeking to capitalize on the weak yen.

The Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) of Japan proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for seven agricultural chemicals (Benthiavalicarb-isopropyl, Hexaconazole, Isopyrazam, Metaflumizone, Broflanilide, Teflubenzuron, and Phenoxyethanol) for various agricultural commodities.

In 2019, the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) entered into force. As a result, Japan approved 16 new wine additives that were previously not allowed in wine produced or consumed in Japan.

Since 2018, Japan has implemented three large-scale free trade agreements (FTA) with major economies: the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Japan-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement, and the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA).

The 2023 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2023 calendar year.

The Japanese food market was valued at $564 billion in 2022 with retail sales accounting for $327 billion (58 percent) and foodservice sales accounting for $237 billion (42 percent). Japan relies on imports from other countries for the bulk of its food supply.

Fluid milk production will be up slightly in 2023 as a greater number of heifers enter milk production. Demand for dairy products in the hotel, restaurant, and institutional food service industries will be pushed by an influx of foreign tourists, although surplus drinking milk will still be diverted to further processing into butter and non-fat dry milk for which ending stocks will finish higher in 2022.

On October 13, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) opened a public comment period for proposed revisions to the genetically engineered (GE) labeling requirements of the Food Labeling Standards.

On October 13, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) opened a public comment period for the proposed revision to allergy labeling requirements for walnuts in Japan’s Food Labeling Standards. CAA will accept comments in Japanese through November 12, 2022.

On October 4, 2022, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) invited public comments on the proposed Basic Policy for Promoting Decarbonization of Aviation. The proposed policy identifies Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) introduction as a key strategy for reducing CO2 emissions in Japan’s aviation sector.

On September 30th, in a revision to its January announcement, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries affirmed that it will increase the tariff-rate quota volumes for butter to 9,788 MT but will hold non-fat dry milk (NFDM) at 750 MT for Japanese fiscal year (JFY) 2021. Total planned imports are estimated to be about 137,000 MT (milk equivalent).