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Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 6 agricultural chemicals (Bifenthrin, Flutolanil, Inpyrfluxam, Picarbutrazox, Pyribencarb, Sethoxydim) for various agricultural commodities.

In Japan Fiscal Year 2022, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) awarded 677,714 metric tons of rice through the Minimum Access import system.

On April 21, Japan's National Tax Agency opened a public comment period for the Guidelines for Handling Alcoholic Beverages with Organisms Developed with Genome Editing Technology. The public comment period will close on May 25, 2023.

On April 3, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced tariff-rate quota (TRQ) volumes for dairy products during Japanese Fiscal Year 2023 (April to March).

The industrial demand for sugar beets continues to rise, as it provides a higher price, thus incentivizing many farmers to plant more beets. In marketing year (MY) 2022/23 the sugar beets were subject to an outbreak of Rhizomania disease.

Egyptian traders and crushers continue to demand sustainability and quality of supply, both of which are key features of U.S.-origin soybean. This demand produced another record year for U.S.-origin soybean exports to Egypt with 4.07 MMT in exports, was by far Egypt’s largest supplier of soybeans in marketing year 2021/22.

Like many countries in the world, Egypt has been greatly affected by the Russian war on Ukraine, which has caused strain on the Egyptian economy. In 2022, the Egyptian government struggled to rein in inflation caused by rising food and energy prices. In October 2022, Egypt decided to sharply devalue the currency by the end of 2022, inflation reached almost 22 percent.

The government of Egypt has yet to publish or notify an official statement regarding the application of halal certification on dairy past the April 1 deadline. However, the industry reports that another extension from fees has been granted for as much as a year.

Japan announced low tariff-rate quotas for butter (8,000 MT) and non-fat dried milk (750 MT) in Japanese fiscal year 2023.

The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) will enter Year 5 of agreement implementation on April 1, 2023, eliminating tariffs on multiple products with staging categories where tariffs were reduced in four annual increments beginning on April 1 of Year 2 (April 1, 2020).

In MY 2021/22, the total value of Japan’s soybean imports reached a historical record while rapeseed crush hit the lowest point in 10 years as rapeseed imports from Canada declined.

Japan introduced an emergency program to induce early slaughtering of less-productive dairy cows in March 2023 as an incentive to reduce excess milk production and support dairy farm management.