Japan Updates Labeling Regulation for Foods with GM Components

Japan has updated its food labeling rules for foods with genetically modified (GM) components, and will enact a national ‘non-GM’ labeling system update in 2023, reports the Food Navigator-Asia on July 05.  The local Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) earlier this year published a documentation announcing that nine major agricultural products are now subject to mandatory GM labeling as are processed food that use these ingredients.

The nine agricultural products include soybeans, corn, potatoes, rapeseed, cottonseed, alfalfa, sugar beet, papaya, and mustard greens.  Additionally, all processed foods that are made using these nine products as raw materials will also be subject to mandatory GM labeling if the GM DNA or protein products by this DNA is still detectable after processing. At this point, this will be monitored for 33 major product categories, which the report said would include just about every type of food that could be made from the nine types of produce, such as tofu, soymilk, corn and potato snacks, canned foods, starches, grits, flours, among others.