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The Government of Japan (GOJ) has opened the public comment period for the “amendment of positive list of synthetic resins used for food apparatus, containers, and packaging.”

Ukraine established a simplified procedure for temporary registration of genetically engineered cotton varieties only.

On May 8, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) announced the issuance of new and renewed biosafety certificates for genetically engineered (GE) and gene-edited events.

The Brazilian Government announced the elimination of import taxes on paddy rice (100610), husked/brown rice (100620), and milled rice (100630) for all countries.

The Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) of Japan proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for seven agricultural chemicals (Benthiavalicarb-isopropyl, Hexaconazole, Isopyrazam, Metaflumizone, Broflanilide, Teflubenzuron, and Phenoxyethanol) for various agricultural commodities.

On April 4, 2024, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published on its website, Order F. No. TIC-B02/2/2022-IMPORTS-FSSAI. The FSSAI order extends the effective implementation date for the mandatory registration of foreign food manufacturing facilities (FFMF) for the import of certain categories of foods such as milk and milk products; meat and meat products including poultry, fish, and their products; egg powder; infant food; and nutraceuticals to India.

In 2019, the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) entered into force. As a result, Japan approved 16 new wine additives that were previously not allowed in wine produced or consumed in Japan.

FAS has received inquiries about several websites that offer facility registration to export various food and agricultural products to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Many of these websites, however, are not official PRC government websites. Exporters should register their facilities through official government websites or through a U.S. government agency.

Since 2018, Japan has implemented three large-scale free trade agreements (FTA) with major economies: the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Japan-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement, and the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA).

On April 8, 2024, People's Republic of China (PRC) authorities updated the list of commodities, which includes 13 food and agricultural products, that are subject to import tariffs or limitations in border trade across foreign ports of entry with multiple Chinese provinces.

The Japanese food market was valued at $564 billion in 2022 with retail sales accounting for $327 billion (58 percent) and foodservice sales accounting for $237 billion (42 percent). Japan relies on imports from other countries for the bulk of its food supply.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency published the finalized guidance document clarifying their position on novelty declarations and pre-market assessments for livestock feeds derived from crops developed through gene-editing.