By HIRONORI KATO/ Staff Writer   The government is cracking down on trademark infringements overseas of globally renowned Japanese products by setting up specialized centers to root out unscrupulous business operators.   The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries estimates that food products passed off as genuine Japanese cuisine items such as Kobe beef, Seki Saba mackerel, Uji matcha and Nagasaki castella cake rake….Read more

Tokyo, Nov. 7 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products and other food items exceeded 1 trillion yen in the first nine months of this year, the fastest pace on record, government data showed Tuesday.   According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, such exports in January-September rose 5.8 pct from a year earlier to 1,053.1….Read more

Tokyo, Oct. 13 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Friday compiled an emergency package of measures for promoting exports of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products and foods, and strengthening food security.   The government plans to reflect the measures in its new economic package to be drawn up by the end of this month.   It will also review by the….Read more

On Oct. 5, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced it had agreed with Ukraine to set up a joint taskforce aimed at rebuilding the European nation’s farm sector. As part of efforts to support Ukraine’s reconstruction, Japan will increase its exports of farm machinery and help agricultural startups operate there.   The “Japan-Ukraine Joint Task Force on Revitalization….Read more

Tokyo, Oct. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s agriculture ministry Monday unveiled a plan to consider legislation for emergencies that would allow the government to ask private companies to draw up import and shipment plans for agricultural and livestock products.   In principle, the government would make such requests to facilitate voluntary efforts by the private sector in the event of a food….Read more

The Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corporation (ALIC) predicts that Japan’s beef imports in October will drop 22.4% on the year to 37,700 tons. Trading firms are holding back on their imports due to strong beef stockpiles at home as well as rising beef prices in the United States. Beef imports in September are expected to decline 26.8% on the year….Read more

NHK reported that according to the Finance Ministry, Japan’s exports of fishery products, excluding processed foods, to China dropped in August by about 75% in value from the same month last year, apparently due to China’s blanket ban on Japanese seafood imports in response to the start of the Fukushima water release. The network said the GOJ has decided to….Read more

Jiji reported that a team of U.S. Embassy officials led by Minister Counselor for Agricultural Affairs Morgan Perkins toured a farmers’ market in Fukushima on Wednesday and sampled peaches, grapes, and other local produce. The senior Embassy official told the press afterward that he has full confidence in the safety of Fukushima produce.   Fukushima-based broadcasters TUF and Fukushima TV….Read more