Administrative approach to seafood HACCP in Japan

Abstract

Since lots of foods are imported from various parts of world to Japan, guarantees of their safety and compliance to the Japanese requirements are essential in term of public health in Japan. Every year about three million tons of fresh and processed seafood are imported and 350 thousands of notifications in accordance with the provisions of the Japanese Food Sanitation Law are received by the Quarantine Offices. As origins, kinds and processes of the imported seafood are varied, various food safety issues related to imported foods are experienced. HACCP has been an internationally recognized approach for food safety since its adoption in the Codex Alimentarius. Applications of HACCP throughout food chain are encouraged. Voluntary application of HACCP in Japan was regulated in 1995. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare currently approves eighteen processing establishments of Fish-Paste products. © 2002, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.