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RTw (Reuters World Report)
Thu, Jul 15, 1999Japan firms smell opportunity in
non-GMO foods
By Aya Takada
TOKYO, July 15 (Reuters) - As plans brew in Japan for labelling foods
containing genetically modified organisms (GMO), companies see potential in
marketing food without GMOs sought by consumers concerned about safety,
industry officials say.
A government committee is scheduled to decide on GMO labelling
regulations for food products by the end of August.
Japan is one the world's largest importers of GMOs due to its heavy
dependence on agricultural imports from the United States, the largest
producer of genetically altered crops.
Committee members have said labels would likely be required for foods
in which DNA or protein resulting from genetic modification is detectable..
This, they said, is expected to spark interest in imports that do not
include GMOs among processors, including producers of traditional "tofu"
soybean curd.
Possible labelling exemptions might include foods produced from GMOs
that do not contain DNA or protein from genetic modification, such as
vegetable oils and corn syrup.
Japan has approved 22 varieties of genetically engineered crops under
its safety guidelines, including soybeans, corn, rapeseed, potatoes, cotton
and tomatoes.
Its annual imports of soybeans for food are estimated at 800,000 to
one million tonnes, while imports of soybeans for edible oils total about
3.7 million to 3.8 million tonnes.
Marubeni Corp has said it plans to supply non-GMO soybeans to Japanese
food processors through a strict segregation system.
Cooperating with U.S. agribusiness company Archer Daniels Midland, the
Japanese trading house plans to supply 31,000 tonnes of non-GMO U.S.
soybeans to Japanese customers during the year beginning with the next
harvest around September.
Marubeni said it could raise that amount if demand is strong.
"We have launched this business to meet consumer needs," a Marubeni
official said.
"We are the first to adopt a non-GMO segregation system for soybean
imports to Japan. But other trading houses will likely follow suit if the
government imposes GMO labelling guidelines."
Marubeni has U.S. contracts to grow four varieties of non-GMO soybeans
suitable for production of tofu and "miso" bean paste.
Segregation procedures cover field inspection, collection, storage,
loading and arrival in Japan.
Marubeni uses enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for genetic
testing to ensure its non-GMO soybeans are 98 to 99 percent free of
genetically altered materials.
The company annually handles 100,000 tonnes of soybeans for food and
400,000 tonnes for crushing, although it plans to apply its non-GMO
management only to imports of food soybeans.
Spirits maker Takara Shuzo Co and trading house Mitsubishi Corp are
considering a joint venture for testing and certification of non-GMO food..
Takara started gene identification testing on soybeans and soybean
products in April 1998 and expanded it to corn last October.
The two companies plan to test non-GMO soybeans at Takara's
laboratories in the United States and Japan using the polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) method and to issue GMO-free certification.
Takara is the only Japanese company licensed by Swiss drug company
Roche Holdings AG to conduct PCR analysis.
A Takara spokesman said details of the joint venture plans were not
set yet, but the business held promise as consumers want to make an
informed choice about what they eat.
"Demand for gene testing will likely grow further after the government
decides on GMO labelling rules," the spokesman said.
Itochu Feed Mills Co, a unit of trading house Itochu Corp, is
expanding use of non-genetically altered corn in its compound feed output,
responding to users who want to avoid genetically altered pest-resistant
corn.
The feed maker plans to increase its use of conventional corn with higher
oil content grown by contracted U.S. farmers to 180,000-200,000 tonnes in
the business year to next March 31, compared with 150,000 tonnes in the
previous year. |