Author : Yutaka Tabei

Summary : The Government of Japan has declared 22 genetically modified crops safe as food and feed. However, some Japanese consumer and environmental organizations have doubts about the safety of these crops and have protested their import and consumption as human food and livestock feed. Consumer anxiety about these issues is due partly to a lack of reliable information. The government, which regulates genetically modified organisms, plays a role in providing the public with accurate information about genetically engineered crops and their risk assessment. This paper describes Japan's experience with public acceptance activities carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.