FTA and the food on our tables (pdf) Free Trade Agreements and the Food on our Tables Report by Yasuaki Yamaura Consumers Union of Japan/Food Action 21 The purpose of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) is to lower tariffs and reduce other barriers for products traded between two countries. Since 2002, Japan has concluded FTAs with Singapore, Mexico and Malaysia, and is also currently in the process of negotiating deals with South Korea, India and Australia. I participated in two meetings sponsored by NGOs and experts that oppose FTA negotiations in Sydney, Australia, in parallel with the APEC Summit in September, 2007. People from different backgrounds in the Asia-Pacific region voiced…
Japan Resources No. 141
Japan Resources No. 141 (pdf) Japan Resources No. 141 CONTENTS: Food Irradiation Opposition Letter Codex Comments Request: South Australia to Continue Moratorium on GM Crops International Dioxin Forum Codex Task Force Report and Comments Statement: Continue GM Moratorium! The Opposition Movement to GMOs in Japan “Keep GM ban or face revolt, say Japanese”
Statement Against GMO
GMO Statement (pdf) Statement: Japanese Consumers Request Australian State Governments to Continue GM Moratorium (October 12, 2007) We, Japanese consumers, believe that we are now standing at a critical crossroads in assuring our food safety, because the Australian moratorium on genetically modified crops might be lifted. Australia is today the only country that can supply GM-free canola to food-importing countries like Japan, now that Canadian canola, on which Japan has been heavily dependent for cooking oil, is highly susceptible to GM contamination. We believe GM crops present a world-wide threat not only to food safety and security, but also to biodiversity and environment. This is why we request the Australian…
Codex Task Force Report and Comments
Codex Task Force Report and Comments (pdf) Codex Task Force Report and Comments: By Yasuaki Yamaura, Consumers Union of Japan The Codex Task Force meeting on Biotechnology has ended and the current round of the discussions is over. Japanese consumers are concerned about the issues under discussion regarding food from GMO animals as well as the GM contamination problem. During the Codex TF meeting held here in Japan, Consumers International stated its position that CI is against the use of antibiotic resistant marker genes in animals, and that they should not be allowed. In fact, the current Codex language on the controversial marker genes is already five years old, based…
Japan Resources No. 140
Japan Resources No. 140 CONTENTS: Opposition Statement Regarding US Beef April 2007 ADB NGO Symposium ADB: “Globalization and Japanese Agriculture” Australia-Japan Free Trade Agreement-A bad deal should be stopped OIE Rates the United States as a “Controlled Risk” Country “We demand that 100% BSE inspection should be continued in 2008?