Vol. 21 No. 4 December 2003

Domestic
MAFF to Establish New JAS Standard for Beef, Also Applicable to Imports
Yoshiyuki Kamei Stays on as Agriculture Minister After Cabinet Reshuffle
Minister Reasserts Position on Mexico FTA and Direct Payments to Support Farming Businesses
Rice Crop Index Falls to Average of 92; Harvest "Very Poor" in Tohoku Region
MAFF Report: Infection Routes are Closed and No Further Cases of BSE Will Arise
First Meeting of Study Group in Preparation for Radical Review of JAS System
MAFF Publishes New Long-Term Plan for Farmland Improvement Setting Numerical Targets
FSC Special Committee to Draw Up Standards for Safety Evaluation of GM Foods
First Case of BSE Under Age of 24 Months; Ministries Maintain Beef is Safe
Japan's Food Self-Sufficiency Ratio Remains at 40% in 2002

International
Minister Says Japan Should Work More Closely With Developing Countries in WTO
Negotiations
Japan and Korea to Announce Start of FTA Negotiations at APEC Conference
Japan Proposes Abolition of Tariffs on 50 More Agricultural Products Under FTA With Mexico

BSE: New Information Should be Used to Enhance Food Safety