Japan

Codex Contact Point

Director, Office for Resources, Policy Division, Science and Technology Policy Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 3-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8959, Japan

Telephone:
+81 3 5253 4111

Fax:
+81 3 6734 4010

Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Competent authorities

Name of authority:
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)
Mandate/competence:
MAFF is responsible for risk management related to agriculture and forestry, livestock management, and fisheries.
http://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/food_safety/index.html

Name of authority:
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)

Mandate/competence:
MHLW is responsible for risk management related to food hygiene.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/shokuhin/index_00006.html

Name of authority:
Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA)
Mandate/competence:
CAA is responsible for management related to labelling of food items.
https://www.caa.go.jp/en/

INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point

Office of International Food Safety,
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan

E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +81-3-5253-2326

Food safety and consumer protection – laws and regulations

The current list of legislation, related to food safety and consumer protection in each country, is extracted from FAO's database on Food Legislation FAOLEX. While FAOLEX makes every effort to serve as a high quality, reliable source of information, no guarantee is given that the information provided in FAOLEX is correct, complete, and up-to-date.

The national Codex programme

National Codex consultative mechanism

Japan has established a national consultative council that consists of consumers, industries and academia. Meetings of the council are held regularly in order to have consultations and to share information on Codex activities and discussions.

Providers of scientific and technical input to national consultation on Codex

We consider our position based on inputs from relevant government organizations, consumers, industries and academia and other stakeholders.

Risk Assessments and Scientific Data

National bodies providing risk assessment and scientific advice

Food Safety Commission, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (FSCJ)

Risk assessment, risk profiles, scientific opinions

Risk assessments conducted by FSCJ are available on the following webpage.
https://www.fsc.go.jp/english/index.html

Official Laboratories

Official Laboratory:
National Institute of Health Sciences http://www.nihs.go.jp/english/index.html
Official Competence:

Official Laboratory:
National Institute of Infectious Diseases https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/en/
Official Competence:

Official Laboratory:
National Veterinary Assay Laboratory
http://www.maff.go.jp/nval/english/index.html

Official Competence:

Official Laboratory:
National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
http://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/english/index.html

Official Competence:

Official Laboratory:
Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center
http://www.famic.go.jp/english/index.html

Official Competence:

Surveillance of foodborne diseases and monitoring of food contamination

National surveillance systems – foodborne disease in humans

The MHLW and local governments have monitoring and surveillance systems in place for food safety. The MHLW provides consumers and business operators with information based on the latest findings to help them deepen understanding about food hygiene and safety to ensure the prevention of food poisoning outbreaks. In case of an outbreak, the MHLW will work together with relevant local governments to identify the cause and to try to stop the outbreaks in the early stages.

National monitoring systems – foodborne hazards in the food chain

The MHLW and local governments have monitoring and surveillance systems in place for food safety. The MHLW provides consumers and business operators with information based on the latest findings to help them deepen understanding about food hygiene and safety to ensure the prevention of food poisoning outbreaks. In case of an outbreak, the MHLW will work together with relevant local governments to identify the cause and to try to stop the outbreaks in the early stages.