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 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 2

Current Environment on biotech (GMO)- 2 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. CBI Japan 3

CBIJ challenge  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 CBI Japan 4