Report No.241006
Vol.24 No.10 June 2007

- International -

Violation by Imported Agricultural Products Increases One Year after the Introduction of Positive List

Measures Advancing for Domestic Products while China also Strengthening System

One year has passed since a positive list system for agricultural chemical residues in foods was introduced on May 29. According to data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the number of residue violation cases above maximum limits in this one year decreased to 14 from the three-year-average (2000 - 2002) of 22 when looking at domestic agricultural products. In contrast, 25 items of imported products did not comply with the maximum limits and were ordered for an inspection, which is about three-fold increase from 9 in the previous year. China, which is the major exporter of vegetables to Japan, however, is making a concerted effort to strengthen its agricultural chemicals management and making up for its late start in safety measures.

Of domestic agricultural products above the maximum residue limits for agricultural chemicals, only three cases exceeded the uniform limit of 0.01ppm that was newly added with the introduction of the positive list system. One case was due to the outflow of fungicide in paddy field, the other case was caused by the use of prohibited agricultural chemicals. The cause of the remaining case found in May of this year is now being probed.

As mentioned earlier, the number of violation decreased to 14 cases, which is two thirds of the three-year average. MAFF saw that the increasingly enhanced inspections around the country and awareness-raising through workshops held was likely to lead to the reduction.

With regard to imported products, on the other hand, 13 items did not comply with the uniform limit out of the 25 items that were ordered for an inspection (single item from single country that has violated twice is required to receive full inspection). Eleven items were from China. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare told that the positive list system brought about the increased number of cases above the maximum residue limits especially for China. The ministry is reinforcing the inspection for imported foods also in this fiscal year. The number of regular inspections increased by 1,000 to 79,000 in FY 2007 compared to the previous year. In addition, the number of agricultural chemicals per inspection rose by 50 to 500 during the same period. Inspectors amounted to 334 persons in FY 2007, with the addition of 30 to the staff in FY 2006.

In response to the increasingly strict check structure, China is strengthening its safety measures. The country works to designate fields that grow vegetables to be exported to Japan, and employs a two-step process on voluntary and national basis for residue inspection. As a result, no item has received an order for inspection this year. Chinese government aims at the annual growth of 7% for export values of agricultural products.

Prof. Naoki Motoyama, who teaches at Graduate School of Chiba University and is well-versed in pesticide issues, said that countries had worked hard to conduct the strict management of pesticides and the gap in safety measures between domestic and imported products was narrowing. He added that a measure is required for producing areas in Japan that brought this into view.

Notes:
Positive list system:
A positive list system provides for maximum residue limits (including uniform limit of 0.01ppm) for all pesticide, feed additive and veterinary drug residue in foods, based on the revised Food Sanitation Law. Foods in which any agricultural chemical residues are found in excess of the limits are not allowed to be distributed or sold.

Imported agricultural products that were ordered for inspection ( Sample)
Noncompliance with uniform limit of 0.01ppm

Noncompliance with residue limit                                       Numbers in parentheses are residue limits.

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