The Opposition Movement to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Japan

In 1996, Japan began to import genetically modified soybeans from the US. That same year, the "NO! GMO Campaign" was started by Japanese consumer organizations, producer organizations, cooperatives, organic food distributors, and individuals as an opposition movement to halt the domestic production and the import of GMOs and to create a labeling system to identify GMOs.

Labeling System
Japan is a major importer of food, producing only 3% of the soybeans it needs. As a result, the major grain producers and the US administration have a strong influence over the Japanese government. The Japanese government has adopted the position that it will treat GMOs as "substantively equivalent" and will not require labeling or strict safety inspections.
Local consumer groups and cooperatives gathered signatures under the "NO! GMO Campaign," to support a labeling system and in mid-1998 sent more than 1.2 million signatures to the Minister of Health and Welfare (MHW) and over 1 million to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF). Furthermore, local assemblies sent letters requesting labeling requirements to MHW (1100+) and MAFF (900+). There are about 3300 local assemblies in Japan, about 1/3 of which have sought some kind of regulation of GMOs. This is the first time this kind of support has occurred in Japan. The individual signatures and assembly letters have no legal power, but increased public interest was a factor for the committee in the consideration of the labeling problem for the MAFF in 1998.
On July 22, 1999, in response to public pressures, MAFF revised its "Law Concerning the Regulation of Agricultural and Forestry Resources and Appropriateness of Quality Labeling" to call for the labeling of genetically modified organisms. On March 31, 2000, "Standards for Labeling of Recombinant DNA Organisms" was announced and a labeling system covering production, processing, import and retail took effect from April 1, 2001.
However, this labeling system has shortcomings. Final products in which it is impossible to distinguish the presence of GMOs such as vegetable oils or soy sauce are not labeled. The citizens are seeking documentation of raw materials as a way to identify GMOs.

Preventing of Domestic Production
Japan has approved GM soybeans, greens, corn, and potatoes for consumption. Potatoes are a regulated import and may only be imported frozen or dried to prevent the spread of plant diseases. Since Japan grows only a small amount, soybeans, greens, and corn are imported in large quantities to use as stock feed or in vegetable oils. Soybeans are used for many products such as soy sauce, miso, tofu, natto, and soy oil, all important, traditional ingredients of the Japanese diet.
Japan does not currently grow GMOs. Furthermore, the "NO! GMO Campaign," organic food distributors, and cooperatives are supporting the increase of domestic production as an alternative to GMOs.
In concrete terms, this means the creation of a "Soybean Trust." The trust will ask farmers to grow soybeans for a guaranteed market to increase domestic soybean production. Farmers will be encouraged to not grow GMOs since "domestically grown" will become positively associated with "non-GMO."
In Japan, the food giant Kagome (ketchup, tomato juice, etc.) and the beer giant Kirin (beer, spirits, juice, and food) were seeking domestic commercial production of GM tomatoes with a longer shelf life.
The "NO! GMO Campaign" headed up an opposition movement that caused Kagome to quickly announce it was not pursuing this interest. However, Kirin continued preparations. In response, a boycott of Kirin's main product, beer, continued until Kirin also gave up in its interest.

Changing Domestic Food Corporation Policy
Opposition by citizens to GM foods can also be seen in the movement to have beer manufacturers, such as Kirin, use non-GM products such as cornstarch as the adjunct for their beers.
Taishi Foods, a large food manufacturer, started labeling their tofu as "Non Genetically Modified" before the labeling system was in place and prompted discussion within the industry. The distributors and manufacturers that first criticized Taishi later realized that non-GM foods were a selling point and began labeling their own non-GM products as such.
In 1997 and 1998, agriculture products on the import market were not identified as GM or non-GM due to the difficulty of separating them. But the demands of major clients such as beer manufacturers helped establish a non-GM import market that clearly identifies non-GM soybeans, corn, and other products.

Inspection Movement
In July of 1997, the "NO! GMO Campaign" began a movement for the inspection of the DNA of domestic GM foods and feed. Unapproved GM corn was soon detected in corn products. Before the discovery of StarLink GM corn in taco shells in the US became a concern, StarLink GM corn was discovered in Japan's food distribution network. Testing for the StarLink GM corn revealed that 1 type of product contained StarLink GM corn and it became clear that Japanese food products also had StarLink GM corn mixed in.
In response to this, the MAFF and MHW have been critical or remained silent.

Movement Against Biotech Rice
In the winter of 2000, 3 Cooperative Unions actively involved in organic agriculture and environmental issues within the Japanese Federation of Consumer Cooperatives, jointly established the "Stop! Genetically Modified Rice Cooperative Network" to oppose GM rice. Green Co-op Consumer's Co-operative Union, Sekatsu Club Consumer's Cooperative Union, and the Kansai Co-operative Union, the 3 founders, represent 620,000 consumers and 3800 rice farmers.
By collecting signatures and providing education activities, this movement hopes to prevent the spread of GM rice.
On November 11, 2000, "NO! GMO Campaign" began the Campaign for a GM Rice Free World. In March 2001, timed for the WTO/FAO Codex Committee Special Subcommittee on Biotech Foods meeting, opposition activities were held in South Korea, the Philippines, India, Malaysia and other countries.
The movement to oppose GM foods is gaining support in Japan among consumer movements, organic farmers, cooperatives, and organic food distributors and is also spreading to environmental conservation organizations.
(2001.4.25 GMR Watch Center)

[ April 25, 2001 | report ]