Crop Biotechnology News

Farmers will be exempt from a legal requirement to label corn less than 5 percent genetically modified, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Consumer groups are likely to be livid by the ministry`s allowance for farmers as they had been seeking a legal obligation that producers label all foods whose genes had been even minutely modified.

It also comes as something of a surprise to see the ministry include corn among discussions of labeling because its composition makes it extremely difficult to determine whether it has been genetically modified.

But recent improvements in analysis techniques will be applied to foodstuffs, which will come under scrutiny with revisions to the Japan Agricultural Standards that go into effect from April 1.

Ministry officials took the move to keep pace with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. On March 15, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare sent out a directive saying that all corn passing a safety inspection should be labeled as genetically modified if over 5 percent of its entirety is not completely natural. Labeling will become voluntary if 5 percent or less of the corn is genetically modified.

Until now, the ministry dealing with primary industry has targeted five fresh foods, such as corn and soybeans, and 24 processed foods, like tofu, for labeling in connection with genetic modifications.

Soybeans are also allowed up to 5 percent before they must be labeled as being genetically modified. Even using IP handling, which is the term used to describe the production and distribution of non-genetically modified foods, it was deemed impossible to avoid allowing for up to 5 percent of soybeans being genetically modified, even if that modification was unintentional.

Recent developments in analysis technologies have made it possible to determine the degree to which corn has been genetically modified. Based on the same IP handling process as soybeans, the ministry came up with the 5 percent figure.