CBIJ Biotech information in Japan February 26, 2013 CBI Japan 1 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

CBIJ Biotech information in Japan

February 26, 2013

CBI Japan 1

Current Environment on biotech (GMO)- 1

CBI Japan 2

Economic and Industry Environment:

• Farmers are old (ave. 65 year-old) and are smallholders. (>1.ha)
• Japan heavily depends on importing corn, soybean, wheat, canola, cotton and etc.

from abroad. Only rice is 100% self sufficient.

Politics:

• In 2000 DPJ (Democratic party of Japan gained the seat after LDP (Liberal

Democratic Party) served for 60 years.

• DPJ was very conservative against GM and other food safety. As they interfered

scientific decision, administrative process became very slow in regulatory agencies.

• Even DPJ insisted on MAFF to trim budget for promotion of GM public awareness.
• Last December election made DPJ looser, so LDP came back for running

government.

• All industry are expecting better conditions than before now.

Academia/National Institutes:

• Due to low public acceptance, number of GMO research was decreasing. (less

budgeting)

• But some National research stations are proactive and also doing biotech risk

communications

CBI Japan 3

Public, Media and Consumer group:

• Japanese are very sensitive on safety because of many food scandals in the past.
• Public acceptance of GMO is low as they see non-GMO labeled products on the

shelves every day, but it is slightly better in the past.

• Major media stay quiet at the moment, but local media wrote stories about anti-GMO.
• Some consumer groups have vocal voices and request tighter GMO labeling by

demonstrating how GMO is unsafe. (Anti-GMO movies, Discussion with politicians, TPP etc.)

• Consumer groups sent a large number of against comments to the public comments..

Regulation/Approval

• All regulations for food, feed and environment are in place.
• Agencies (MAFF/MHLW/FSC) require longer timeline for administrative

process/internal review.

• Reviewers sometimes request data more than required assessment data.
• It is hard for us to predict when we get full approvals.

Current Environment on biotech (GMO)- 2

CBI Japan 4

 Improvement of review process to increase transparency and science-based risk assessment (R=H x E).  Timely and predictable approval  Improve environment to achieve above goals by reinforcing relationships with key stakeholders.

• Strengthen relationships with media to distribute accurate information
• Strengthen relationship with related industries as supporters
• Promote developed key messages to gain public acceptance

CBIJ challenge