Keiko SAITO

Technical Official

Office of International Food Safety,

Department of Food Safety,

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Overview of Food Safety Control System in Japan ~an overview of the role of MHLW~

Today’s Topics

1. Administration system for food safety

in Japan

2. Ensuring Safety of Imported Food

1. Administration system

for food safety in Japan

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MHLW: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

MAFF: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

CAA: Consumer Affairs Agency

Risk Assessment

Risk Management

Risk Communication

Food Safety

CommissionMHLW / MAFF

Risk Analysis in Japan

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� Disclosure of food safety related information

� Opportunities for the consumers to express their views

Risk Communication

• Implementation of risk

assessment

Assess the probability

and extent of adverse

impacts of hazardous

substances in food.

Food Safety Commission

Food Safety Basic Law

Risk Assessment

� Sets standards

for chemicals in

food.

� Monitors

compliance.

MHLW

Food Sanitation Act, etc.

Risk Management

� Registers agricultural chemicals.

� Approves andcontrols Veterinary drugs and their uses.

� Set standards for feed.

MAFF

Agricultural Chemicals Regulation ActAct on Safety Assurance and Quality Improvement of Feeds, etc.

Role sharing of Food Safety (Risk Analysis)

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MHLW

Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau

Dept. of Food Safety

Policy Planning & Communication Division

Standards & Evaluation Division

Inspection & Safety Division

Office of International Food Safety

Office of Quarantine Station Administration

Office of Import Food Safety

Office of Health Policy on Newly Developed Food

Office of Information Managementfor Food Poisoning Damages

Department of Food Safety, MHLW

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・Business licensing ・Inspection, surveillance and guidance ・Sampling

・Administrative order ・ Investigation ・ Consultation, handling of

claims

・ Education programs

Structure of Food Sanitation Administration～～～～mainly in the MHLW～～～～

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare(MHLW)

32 Quarantine Stations

7 Local Bureaus of Health and Welfares

Local Governments

- 47 Prefectures, 70 Cities with health centers,

and 23 Wards (Tokyo)

494 Health Centers

・Approval and inspections on HACCP facilities

・Registration (cancellation) for Registered inspection organizations

・To ensure the safety of import foods

・Registration (cancellation) for Registered inspection organizations

2.Ensuring Safety of Imported Food

Food Self-sufficiency Rate

Imported food accounts for about 60% of food in Japan.

*Japan's self-sufficiency is about 40% (on a caloric basis.)

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Food Import Status in Japan

100

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

190

200

210

220

′75 ′77 ′79 ′81 ′83 ′85 ′87 ′89 ′91 ′93 ′95 ′97 ′99 ′01 ′03 ′05 ′07 ′09 ′11

The number of import notifications

Weight of the imports

2,180,000 cases

32,150,000tons

Th

e n

um

be

r o

f im

po

rt n

oti

fica

tio

ns

(Un

it:

ten

th

ou

san

d)

We

igh

t o

f th

e i

mp

ort

s

(mil

lio

n t

on

s)

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32 quarantine stations to submit import notifications of food and related products

6 quarantine stations with inspection divisions

Imported food inspection center

* As of FY 2013

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● ●●

●◎◎◎◎◎◎◎◎★★★★

●

●●

●◎◎◎◎

◎◎◎◎◎◎◎◎★★★★● ●

●

● ●

●●●

●

●

●●

◎◎◎◎

Okinawa

Hokkaido

Kobe

Kyushu Osaka

Yokohama

TokyoNarita

Nagoya

●

◎◎◎◎

★★★★

399 food sanitation monitors

Quarantine Stations in Japan

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Outline of the Monitoring System for Imported Food

I. For Exporting Countries

1. Promoting Sanitation Measures in Exporting Countries

� Appropriate use of agricultural chemicals

� Issuing certifications

� Implementation of examination before exporting

2. Bilateral Discussion

3. On-site inspection

II. Border Control in Importing

1. Assessment by Quarantine Stations

2. Import Inspection System

� Ordered inspection

� Monitoring inspection

� Voluntary inspection guidance

III. Post-importation Measures

1. Hygienic Inspection based on the Prefectural Plan for Monitoring

and Guidance on Food Sanitation

2. Report to the Central Government by Local Government

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Outline of the Import Inspection System

High

Low

Comprehensive Import Prohibition

Ordered Inspection

Strengthening

Monitoring Inspections

Monitoring inspections &

Voluntary inspections

220,000

2,180,000

# of

Notification

# of

Inspection

Inspection Level

Violation Level

14/32Normal monitoring inspection

※e.g. Leek: difenoconazole: Belgium

Reinforcement of monitoring inspection (30%)

Inspection order(e.g.) Parsley: difenoconazole: Italy

Horseradish: difenoconazole: Austlia

Ca

nce

llatio

n

・No violations for two years (e.g. residual agricultural chemicals)

・No violations in 300 inspections for one year (e.g. residual agricultural chemicals)

Ca

nce

llatio

n

・No violations for one year

・No violations in 60 inspections

Ca

nce

llatio

n

MHLW has confirmed the effectiveness of the preventive measures taken by the

exporting country.

Cancellation Requirements

15/32Manufacture

Individual prefectures

having jurisdiction

over the

manufacturer

Individual prefectures

Detection of violation

・Inspections at individual prefectures

・Food poisoning

Notification

Surveillance Report

the website

the websiteMHLW

Provide

Information

Information

sharing

regarding food

poisoning

outbreak

Other Agencies

- MAFF

- CAAIf necessary,

order recall

Other prefectures

NESFD

Recall system of violating foods in Japan

Thank you for your attention

Information Sources

Further information can be found on the Ministry’s food safety website:

Policy Information on Food Safety

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/food/index.html

Imported Foods Inspection Services Home Page

(1) Import Procedure under Food Sanitation Act

(2) Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan

(3) Inspection Orders

(4) Monitoring Plan

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/importedfoods/index.html