Japan reviews U.S. fresh potato import request amid pest and safety concerns

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has identified 21 pest species that pose an invasion risk as part of its review regarding a request from the United States to lift restrictions on fresh potato imports. The identification of these species marks the completion of the second stage of a three-stage approval process. The final stage will involve examining risk-management measures and import conditions with U.S. officials.

Concerns have been raised regarding specific pests, such as the potato cyst nematode and pale potato cyst nematode. Hidehiko Oshima, Director-General of MAFF's Consumer Affairs and Food Safety Bureau, noted that securing effective risk-management measures is a fundamental precondition for lifting the ban, adding that negotiations are likely to be challenging.

In response to the proposed lifting of import bans, the political group Greens Japan has expressed support for an emergency request from the Japan Consumers Federation. The federation is urging the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to reject the full lifting of imports to protect food safety and domestic agriculture. Their concerns include the potential for pest outbreaks, the economic impact on domestic farmers, the introduction of genetically modified or genome-edited potatoes, and the use of pesticides in the U.S. that are not permitted or are regulated differently in Japan.