Vol. 22 No. 6 February 2005 NEWS Domestic 2005 Rice Production Target Set at 8.51 Million Tons Government to Draw Up Brand Strategy for Agricultural Exports 25 Billion Yen of Tax Sources Transferred from MAFF to Local Government Suspension of Shipment of Somatic Cell Cloned Cattle to Continue to End of 2006 Special Zones for Structural Reform to be Extended Nationwide Plans to Set Food Self-Sufficiency Ratios for Prefectures and Municipalities International APEC Economic Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Exercise Leadership in Trade Liberalization Outline Japan-Philippines EPA Agreed; Japan-ASEAN EPA Talks to Start in April MAFF BSE Survey in US Suggests Verification of Cattle Age is Likely to be Limited Topics Biodegradable Plastic Tableware to be Tested at Aichi Expo Pollen Levels in Spring 2005 Set to be 30 Times Higher than in 2004 Environment, Science and Technology A Short-Leaved Welsh Onion for the "Mini" Age Decoding of Rice Genome Completed Food Marketing and Distribution In-store Labelling of Domestic Beef for Give Access to Production History Begins COMMENT The Insecurity of Asia's Rice Supply is a Serious Problem