A weekly update of news from the Japanese
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Public Relations Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries
Kasumigaseki 1-2-1,Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 100-8950
Tel:81-3-3591-2874
Fax:81-3-3597-8722
E-mail:koho_kaigai@nm.maff.go.jp
Editor.Koichi Itoh
I. Partial lifting of the tentative suspension of pork product imports from the regions experiencing outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the European Union (EU)
1) With the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the United Kingdom and its spread to other EU countries, on March 24, 2001, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) implemented a tentative suspension on imports of pork products. Aware of the possibility that FMD could spread throughout the EU region, even FMD-free countries in the EU such as Finland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Belgium, Austria and Spain are included in this suspension until it can be confirmed that prevention measures and surveillance systems for FMD in the above-mentioned countries have been appropriately implemented.
2) The tentative suspension has been continued for Germany, Italy, Belgium and Spain due to a lack of sufficient information necessary for a final decision, but Spanish animal health authorities have since provided the additional information. We assessed the risk that Japan would be affected by FMD through trade with Spain, and concluded that the risk would be quite minimal even if a tentative import suspension is lifted on pork products from Spain, as it has been in the case of Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Austria. Accordingly, we have decided today to lift the import suspension measures and have so notified the organizations concerned.
3) Please note that a relief from the tentative suspension will apply only the pork products from Spain comes from animals that have slaughtered three weeks or more before import inspection at the animal quarantine service.
4) We have not yet collected sufficient information for making a final decision concerning Germany, Italy and Belgium, and thus those countries are still subject to import restriction. MAFF will study the possibility of lifting the tentative suspension after further information is collected.
II. Suspected human case of FMD infection in United Kingdom
According to the information provided by the British Embassy in Tokyo, it has been confirmed that inspections showed that 13 suspected human cases of FMD infection were negative. Two more persons are being inspected for possible FMD infection at this time, and the results of the inspection will be announced at mid-week.
For further information, please contact the Animal Health Division of Agricultural Production Bureau at (03) 3591-6584.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has announced revisions to its Ministrial Ordinance No. 92 requiring the provision of DNA samples of whales caught as by-catch in trap-net fisheries and prohibiting the possession and sale of illegal whale meat.
The Ministrial Ordinance No. 92 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was revised as of April 20, 2001, to take into account the outcome of discussions by a Review Committee on the Responsible Management of Whales chaired by Professor Yoshiaki Matsuda, of Kagoshima University.
1. Purpose of Revision
As part of its Revised Management Scheme, the IWC requires information on the by-catch of large whales. We are therefore implementing changes in reporting requirements. At the same time, revisions to the ordinance will promote a transparent system of domestic distribution of whale products from species under IWC management and strengthen Japan's voluntarily implemented DNA register system as well as strengthen measures against poaching and smuggling.
2. Outline of the Revisions
(1) Reporting requirements and Restrictions on disposal of the by-catch of the large whales. Revisions to ordinance 92 will make it a legal obligation for fishermen to report by-catches and to provide DNA samples for analysis from large whales caught as by-catch. Fishermen will also be required to report on the disposal of such whales. Sales of the products of large whales caught as by-catch without prior submission of DNA samples, as well as the possession and processing of the such whales for the purpose of sales will also be prohibited.
(2) Prohibition of possession, sale and processing of illegally caught whales. Revisions to ordinance 92 prohibit the sales of illegally caught large whales, and the possession and processing of the said whales. Take of the large whales will be prohibited regardless of the fishing gear and hunting methods employed with the exception of those caught by the whaling under permit. This change strengthens previous measures to ensure compliance with regulations under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling that prohibit the commercial take of large whales. Previous measures included: a) non-issuance of permits (for large-type whaling and factory ship-type whaling), b) actual regulation of whaling by prohibiting the take of the large whales (for small-type whaling) under the restrictive conditions attached to the permits, and c) prohibition of the take of the large whales with specific fishing gears (harpoons) and hunting methods (driving).
The prohibition will not apply to the by-catch in trap net fisheries which will now be subject to conditions that legally require fishermen to report by-catches and to submit DNA samples from whales caught as by-catch as described above.
(3) Punishment
Revisions to ordinance 92 include provisions for the imposition of imprisonment and fines to ensure effective implementation of the above and to prevent infractions.
(4) Date of enforcement
The Revised ordinance will enter into force on July 1, 2001.
(Note)
DNA registry as a means to monitor whale meat in domestic markets
Based on DNA analysis techniques that allow the identification of individual animals, Japan has for the past 5 years or so, been developing a registry system that can be used to monitor the distribution and marketing of whale meat products.
The DNA register, maintained by the Institute of Cetacean Research, already includes mitochondrial DNA sequences and microsatellite analysis for all samples taken in Japan's whale research program in the northwestern Pacific as well as a large number, though not all of the samples, of those taken in the Antarctic research program. The register also includes data from a number of samples taken from frozen stockpiles and work is underway to expand this part of the data base.
Samples from small type coastal whaling are presently being analyzed and the revisions to ordinance 92 described above require the submission of a DNA sample from whales caught incidentally in trap nets in the coastal waters of Japan.
Overall, a very substantial portion of the DNA profiles from whale meat to be sold legally in the Japanese market is either already included in the DNA register or is in the process of being included. As sample analysis proceeds and frozen stockpiles diminish over the next few years, the DNA register will include 100% of DNA profiles from whale meat on the market. DNA profiles from any future imports of whale meat will also be included in the register.
At that time, the system will be "fully diagnostic" meaning that market monitoring will be 100% effective since the DNA profile from a sample taken from the market that is included in the register will be from a legal source and the DNA profile from a sample not included in the registry would be clearly identified as being from an illegal source.
The Government of Japan will continue a program of market monitoring to ensure that all whale products available in the retail market are derived from legal sources. Further, to complement the DNA registry and market monitoring, information from DNA analysis (databases) will be made available to the public and Japan will continue to enforce the labeling requirement under the Japanese Agriculture and Forestry Standard Act that requires identification of product origin.
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