Tokyo Food Safety Information Center » Tokyo Metropolitan Government food safety FAQ »What kind of laws and regulations are there overseas concerning pesticides and food additives?

What kind of laws and regulations are there overseas concerning pesticides and food additives?

Japan imports many agricultural products from overseas, and there are concerns that products that do not meet Japanese standards are imported.

The pesticides used in individual countries vary depending on the climate of the country and the types of pests and weeds. Similarly, the amount and types of food additives used vary depending on traditional usage and diet in the country. In fact, each country sets limits based on factors such as actual usage, international standards established by international organizations, and intake of each food. Therefore, quarantine stations check whether food meets Japanese standards when it is imported.

More information

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/ World Health Organization (WHO) Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) carries out international safety evaluations for pesticide residues while the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) carries out international safety evaluations for food additives. The FAO/WHO CODEX ALIMENTARIUS (Codex) determines international standards based on these evaluations. The member nations of the World Trade Organization (158 countries and regions as of February 2013) set their domestic standards based on these international standards.
In fiscal 2009, the National Institute of Health Sciences conducted the Study on the Use of Pesticides in Exporting Countries and summarized the situation in countries with high volumes of exports to Japan.
Moreover, The Japan Food Chemical Research Foundation has posted the websites of leading countries relating to limits of food additives. If you would like more detailed information, please refer to them.