Vol. 21 No. 5 January 2004

Domestic
New National Forest Plan Emphasizes Environmental Protection
MAFF to Revise Basic Plan for Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas
MHLW to Ban Foods Made With Cattle Spines from BSE-Affected Countries
MAFF Establishes "FTA Headquarters" to Work Out Negotiation Strategy
MAFF to Launch Nationwide Investigation of Koi Herpes Infection Routes

International
US to Reopen Borders to Canadian Calves; Japan Expresses Fears of Commingling
MAFF to Ask United States to Ensure Canadian Beef is Not Re-exported to Japan
Difficulties Expected in FTA Talks as Mexico Proposes Substantial Liberalization

Topics
3 Greatest Areas of Consumer Concern are Agricultural Chemicals, Imported Foods and Additives

Environment, Science and Technology
CSTP Prioritizes Analysis of Rice Genome Functions, Detection of Agricultural Chemical Residues
Yamagata Center Develops Sexing Technique for Fertilized Cattle Ova That is Kind to Cells

Food Marketing and Distribution
MAFF to Extend Requirements for Processed Food Labeling to Show
Country of Origin of Raw Materials

World Attention Focused on "Life-Giving" Power of Rice: International Year of Rice