1.Japanese Consumers Shun U.S. GM Beans
2.GMOs and biotechnology in Japan
3.CBIC's Bio Journal - September 2005
4.S.Korea buys non-GM soyabeans
Excellent coverage of the anti-GM scene in Japan + useful links - item 2
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1.Japanese Food Makers Look For New Supply... Consumers Shun U.S. GM Beans
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, 6 Sep 2005 [shortned]
http://www.soyatech.com/bluebook/news/viewarticle.ldml?a=20050906-1
TOKYO -- ... consumers are shunning American genetically modified soybeans. Major tofu producer Asahi Food Processing Co. is due later this month to market tofu made only with Australian soybeans, which are not genetically modified, through supermarkets in the Tokyo area.
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2.GMOs and biotechnology in Japan [shortened]
Dear Friends,
Please read about the current situation around GMOs and biotechnology in Japan on CBIC's Bio Journal. September 2005 issue is now available on CBIC's website: http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cbic/english/index.html (see contents list below - item 3)
<CODEX>
Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task
Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology 5th Session will be held in Japan from 19 to 23 September 2005 (*1) (*2) (*3)
<GM Contamination>
It is known worldwide that consumers in Japan are strongly opposed to GM foods (*4). There are several reasons, but the most feared issue in recent years is related to GM contamination. People became aware of the issue around GM contamination when unapproved GM corn StarLink was discovered back in 2000. Since then unapproved GM potatoes, unapproved GM papaya, as well as unapproved GM maize Bt10 have been discovered in imported goods and reported officially.
<GMO Free Zone>
[There is concern about GM contamination from a number of angles including] GM seeds spillages (*5) and the risk of gene flow. Many consumers nowadays pay more attention to food safety than price (*6) and care more about local production and local consumption. Many farmers in Japan are aware of the fact that so-called "co-existence" is unrealistic. Therefore many farming communities all over Japan started to join the "GMO Free Zone Movement" (*7), which is already well recognized and established in Europe (*8). Hokkaido is the biggest agricultural producing prefecture in Japan (*9). For Hokkaido, protecting its land from GM contamination is very important. (see " (CBIC Bio Journal - below)
<GM rice>
Rice is the staple food for people in Japan. Consumers and farmers together with local communities have been and are working very seriously to put a stop to GM rice open-air field trials: see "Niigata mayors pass resolution to halt field trial of GM rice" (CBIC Bio Journal article)
There is much more to read on Bio Journal. Please do not hesitate to contact us at CBIC: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sincerely,
Akiko Frid
(*) At the bottom of this e-mail, I have included some useful links related to the Bio Journal articles.
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Citizens' Biotechnology Information Center (CBIC)
Tokyo, Japan
Phone: +81-03-5155-2913 / Fax: +81-03-5155-2914
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CBIC is an independent organisation concerned with the ethics and risks of
biotechnology: http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cbic/
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Related links:
(*1) Codex TFBT Agenda (PDF):
http://www.codexalimentarius.net/download/report/653/bt05_01e.pdf
TFBT is scheduled to be held at Makuhari-Messe International Conference Hall
(Chiba, Japan):
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/idenshi/codex/kaisai-english.html#bukai05
(*2) EC Position Papers for Codex Alimentarius:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/ifsi/eupositions/eupositions_en.html
(*3) No! GMO Campaign Appeal on the Codex TFBT (March 2003):
http://www.no-gmo.org/new/2003/3-6-2.htm
Internet Radio from Codex Biotech Task Force meeting 19-23 Sept. 2005:
http://iacfo.blogs.com/codex/
(*4) The anti-GMO movement in Japan in 2004:
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4767
(*5) GM Canola contamination confirmed across Japan (May 2005):
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/canola-report
(*6) Annual Report on Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas In Japan FY 2004
(PDF): http://www.maff.go.jp/hakusyo/kaigai/2004a_rep.pdf
(*7) Join GMO Free Zone Movement in Japan:
http://www.no-gmo.org/new/2005/gmfreezone.htm
(*8) GMO-free Europe: http://www.gmofree-europe.org/
'Co-existence', contamination and GM-free zones: Jeopardising consumer choice?:
http://www.consumersinternational.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=93963&int1stParentNodeID=89650&int2ndParentNodeID=89677
(*9) Cultivated Areas in Each Region (in 2003):
http://tochi.mlit.go.jp/h16hakusho/ch4_se2/setsu_4-2_eng.htm
(*10) We are opposed to the research, harvest, sales, and import/export of genetically modified rice: http://teikeimai.net/gmr-watch/
A major biosafety wake-up call from a senior microbiologist in Japan concerning adefensin-producing GM rice with the potential to cause "far more terrible problems than antibiotic-resistant pathogens":
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=5689
You can search and find articles on the CBIC's website:
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cbic/english/index.html
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3.Bio Journal - September 2005
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cbic/english/index.html
- Buffer zones focal point in Hokkaido bylaw to regulate GM crops cultivation
- Unapproved GM Bt10 maize also detected at Kamaishi port and Hakata port
- GM Green Pepper to prevent Alzheimer's disease
- "Oral vaccine" development plant to be constructed
- Tsukuba University starts open-air test on GM eucalyptus
- Niigata mayors pass resolution to halt field trial of GM rice
- MAFF approves four GM maize varieties for Type I usage
- MEXT approves two new human ES cell research programs
- MEXT invites ROK human clone embryo researchers
- Closeup: What is going to be discussed and decided at the Codex meeting in Japan?
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4. S.Korea says buys 25,000 tonnes US No.1 soybeans
Reuters, 4 Sep 2005
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticleSearch.aspx?storyID=28332+05-Sep-2005+RTRS&srch=genetically
SEOUL Sept 5 (Reuters) - South Korea's state-run Agricultural and Fishery Marketing Corporation has bought 25,000 tonnes of non-genetically modified U.S. No.1 soybeans from ADM, an official at the Korean firm said on Monday. Loading is set for between Oct. 29 and Nov. 17 from the U.S. Gulf and arrival on Dec. 22 at the port of Inchon. Details of the purchase, made via a tender closed on Friday, are as follows: bought at $360.93 per tonne on a cost-and-freight basis.
TONNE: 25,000
SHIPMENT: Oct. 29-Nov. 17 (US Gulf)
Nov. 12-Dec. 1 (Pacific Northwest)
ARRIVAL/PORT: Dec. 22/Inchon