Browse Data and Analysis

This report provides the latest status of consumption, regulation, public perception, research, development, production, government policy, and use of agricultural biotechnology in Japan. In general, Japan uses a science-based process for evaluating and granting approval for import and production of genetically engineered products.

In 2024, Japanese oil refineries have continued supplying ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), which is made from approximately 824 million liters of bioethanol and reflects the annual target volume set by the Government of Japan (GOJ).

Tunisia is continuing to postpone non-urgent matters in front of major political and economic reforms. As a result, Tunisia’s biosafety framework, which was drafted in 2014, remains on hold with no timeframe for a review and parliamentary vote.

The planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops is currently not authorized and there is no biosafety legal framework in place in Egypt. The absence of a biosafety framework contributes directly to a lack of public awareness, funding, and trust in agricultural biotechnology.

FAS/Tokyo projects that Japan's fluid milk production will decline in 2025, primarily due to a decrease in the milking cow population anticipated from 2024.

Egyptian table grape production is forecast to increase to 1.59 million metric tons (MMT) in marketing year (MY) 2024/25 (October 2024 through September 2025).

This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products from the United States to Japan.

The Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) of Japan proposed two sets of revisions. One is for Japan’s maximum residue levels for seven agricultural chemicals (Acrinathrin, Dazomet, Metam and Methyl isothiocyanate, Flutianil, Fosthiazate, Inpyrfluxam, Spirotetramat, Sulfoxaflor, and Dibutylhydroxytoluene) for various agricultural commodities.

This report provides an overview of Japan’s regulations and standards for foods and agricultural products. For more information on Japan's certification requirements, see the FAIRS Export Certificate Report for Japan.

On October 7, 2024, Japan's Forestry Agency proposed the list of organizations which the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries would like to designate as certifiers of information under the revised Clean Wood Act.

On September 19, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of the Government of Japan (GOJ) announced the exemption of domestic field trial requirements for genetically engineered (GE) soybean with familiar trait.

On September 19, 2024, the Government of Egypt filed an eighth addendum to the World Trade Organization's (WTO’s) Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) -- G/TBT/N/EGY/313/Add.8 -- informing interested parties that the time period during which imported milk and dairy products that are not accompanied by a Halal certificate will be permitted to enter Egypt has been extended until December 31, 2025.