Browse Data and Analysis

In October 2024, the Government of Japan (GOJ) added a genome edited potato to the list of genome edited products not subject to regulations for genetically engineered food and feed.

The Ministry of Agriculture has taken unprecedented steps to alleviate the soaring rice prices that have plagued Japan since the summer 2024 rice shortage.

The Government of Japan (GOJ) through its Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA), has opened the public comment period for revisions it is proposing to the specifications for sterilized or sterile filtered mineral water to include specifications for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has taken extraordinary steps to alleviate high rice prices that have continued to increase since the domestic rice shortage in summer 2024.

In 2025, beginning inventories and beef production declined due to the increased pace of slaughter in 2024. Beef consumption remains weak due to inflation, with a shift toward less expensive proteins such as pork.

This year ATO Osaka organized various promotional activities across western Japan, reaching 24 million consumer through in-person events, print, television, radio, and social media. ATO Osaka hosted the largest USA pavilion ever at the FABEX Kansai trade show and debuted the first-ever USA pavilion at the Food Style Kyushu trade show.

Japan’s MY 2022/23 mandarin production recovers from last year’s historically lowest production. However, overall Japanese citrus planted area and production is on a downward trend amidst aging farmers, labor shortages, and a lack of successors for running farms.

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.

The Government of Japan announced a new economic stimulus package of 17 trillion yen ($113 billion) on November 2, 2023.

Japan has decided to fully enact the revised Clean Wood Act from April 1, 2025.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 5 agricultural chemicals (Flonicamid, Fluoxastrobin, Polyoxorim-zinc, Prothiofos, and 3-Nitrooxypropanol) for various agricultural commodities.

Following more than two decades of flat or declining prices, the Japanese economy has experienced sustained price rises over the past year and a half due to global geopolitical factors as well as a significant weakening of the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar.