Achieving Food Safety: A Case Study on Import Food Monitoring of Japan

Abstract

This study is to examine how a country with a significant amount of import food like Japan achieves food safety. Desktop analysis, correlation analysis and in depth-interview at field surveys were employed. It is found that food legislation and regulatory framework of Japanese import food monitoring system supported and guided the responsibilities of food authority, private inspection and testing agencies and importers. A strong negative correlation is found between consultation at quarantine stations and violations of import food with r value = -0.77.Even though the number of delegated laboratories in 62 foreign countries was 42 times higher than that of the domestic laboratories, they shared only 10% of total testing. Japanese Import food monitoring in export countries revealed less advantage in scope, if compared with the EU's system. Japan chooses not to rely on monitoring of export country solely rather than giving consultation to exporters and importers. The national standard formulation method is based on risk analysis in accordance with internationally accepted norms. It can conclude that Japan's import food monitoring system is streamlined in accordance with global trend. The food authority of Japan takes continuous restructuring with sound national quality infrastructure aimed at protection of consumers against adulterated import food.