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International Biodiversity Day Symposium In Tokyo, Japan

Biodiversity, Food Security, North-South, Organic Agriculture/Food

International Biodiversity Day Symposium
Is Our Food and Biodiversity OK?
Saturday 24 May, 2014

YMCA Asia Youth Center
Suidobashi, Tokyo, Japan

13:00 Meeting hall open
13:30 Greetings
13:40 Message from South Korea
13:45 Status of GMOs in the Philippines (50 min)
14:35 Bt Brinjal: Bangladesh case (50 min)
15:25 Situation in Japan (20 min)
15:45 Break (15 min)
16:00 Panel discussion (50 min)
16:50 Final comments
17:00 End

18:00 Party at Tokyo Achikoko!!

なんと東京アチコーコーを偶然に見つけて選んでくださったのですがお話をすると、遺伝子組み換え食品に反対し、食品の安全を考える方々のお集まり。小さいけど、無農薬で畑で野菜を作る私としてはとってもウレシイ出逢いでした。

I am very happy that you found our place and know you all. Let’s keep trying to save food safety. I definitely support your activities!

お集まりいただいた方々の活動の一部は下記でチェックできます。
http://fa-net-japan.org/
http://gmo-iranai.lolipop.jp/index.php/

Japanese Citizens’ Network for Sustainable Food & Agriculture
Consumers Union of Japan
1-9-19-207 Nishi-Waseda
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
www.nishoren.org/en/

* * *

 

Demands to the Japanese Government on the Codex Guideline on Antimicrobial Resistance

Food

CUJ submitted the following demand letter (English version) to the Japanese government concerning a new guideline on antimicrobial resistance related to food being discussed in the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance. We think that the position the Japanese government took at the second meeting in Korea in October 2008 did not reflect the Japanese consumers strong concerns about food safety.

081203-antibiotics-codex-tf (pdf)

Regarding the guideline on antimicrobial resistance related to food under discussion in the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance

(Translation)

To:

  Members of the Japanese Codex Liaison Committee

  Members of the Japanese Government Codex Delegation

From:

  Consumers Union of Japan

November 14, 2008

The second meeting of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on October 20-24, 2008. The topics debated included agenda item 4, “Proposed Draft Risk Assessment Guidance Regarding Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistant Microorganisms” and guidance on creating risk profiles for antimicrobial resistant foodborne microorganisms for setting risk assessment and management profiles. Related to this debate, we have identified the following issues, listed below. We would like Japan’s national liaison committee to thoroughly examine these points. We demand that the Japanese government base its position for the third task force meeting to be held in 2009 on the results of the discussion of this liaison committee.

1) As for agenda item 4 (which was added to the agenda items in CX/AMR 08/2/1), we agree that the three proposed documents on risk assessment, management and profiling be integrated into one guidance document, but we demand that this integration be done without any supression of the contents of the original three documents.

2) During the discussion of agenda item 7 (agenda item 6 in the original CX/AMR 08/2/1), withdrawal from sale of food contaminated by antimicrobial resistant bacteria was debated as a risk management option. At that time, Canada, Norway and the EC supported the adoption of this option, but the representative from the Japanese government, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Australia were opposed to the adoption of this option. We would like you to explain the reason. As food contaminated with bacteria that has acquired resistance to antibiotics is a serious health risk, we feel this food recall option should be stated clearly.

3) We urge the Japanese government to support the proposals for agenda item 7 (risk management) from the viewpoint of consumer protection, particularly regarding efforts to reducing antimicrobial drug use to reduce antimicrobial resistance.

4) Regarding the options for agenda item 7, we feel it is necessary to investigate the proper management and examination of animal feed, waste products including excrement and urine etc. We strongly demand that this should be actively discussed at the third meeting in 2009.

For more information, please contact Yamaura Yasuaki, Consumers Union of Japan

Address: Nishi Waseda 1-9-19-207, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo Japan (169-0051)

E-mail: yamaura (at) nishoren.org

 

Official report:

http://codextfamr.kfda.go.kr/eng/041st/04_02.html

Japan Resources No 145

Japan Resources, ,

cuj-jr-145 (pdf) Japan Resources No 145

We are in the middle of a very busy fall campaign season here at CUJ’s office in Nishi-Waseda, Tokyo, as the leaves are turning dark orange and red. We are pleased to announce our latest issue of Japan Resources, with articles from our trip to Australia, the World Foodless Day event, and CUJ’s response to the rice scandal here in Japan. – Editors

CONTENTS:

  • No-GMO: Message from Namiko Ono
  • No- GMO: Speech by Michiyo Koketsu
  • World Foodless Day in Tokyo
  • Stop Aerial Spraying of Banana Plantations!
  • Rice Scandal
  • International Conference on Consumer Policy
  • No-GMO: Californian Rice
  • No-GMO: Australian Dairy Cattle
  • Hokkaido G8 Summit Declaration

World Foodless Day in Tokyo

Food

Rising food prices, food contamination, reduced food production induced by climate change — food insecurity is spreading all over the world.  Japan is suffering from low food self-sufficiency (barely 40% on calorie basis), a string of food safety scandals and frauds. The occasion of World Food Day on October 16 organised by the FAO is an opportune time to send a strong message of food sovereignty and highlight consumers’ strategies to address the food crisis. 

How can consumers cope with this crisis? Several NGOs will organise a forum, Another World Food Day, in Tokyo to discuss a wide range of current food problems and solutions.  

The forum titled “Sky-rocketing food prices and crisis: hype and reality” will include the following themes: 

  • The real cause of the rising food prices
  • How genetically modified foods are accelerating the food crisis
  • Can Japan feed itself?

Organised by: 

  • NO! GMO Campaign
  • Consumers Union of Japan
  • No to WTO/FTA Grass-roots Campaign
  • Japan Organic Agriculture Association

Date and time: 

  • October 16, 2008
  • afternoon session: 14:00-16:00
  • evening session: 19:00-21:00

Venue:

  • Taito-ku Shogai Gakushu Center
  • Nishi-Asakusa 3-25-6, Taito-ku, Tokyo
  • Nearby stations: JR Uguisudani St. (South exit)/Tokyo Metro Iriya St. (Exit No.1)/Tsukuba Express Asakusa St. (Exit A2)

For further information: NO! GMO Campaign (email: office(at)gmo-iranai.org)

International Conference on Consumer Policy

Uncategorized

Consumers Union of Japan participated in the International Conference on Consumer Policy, held in Tokyo on September 9, 2008. The theme was “The Future of Consumer Policy for a Globalized Society” and over 200 people attended. We were glad to hear Consumer International’s president Samuel Ochieng speak about consumer rights. He also noted the importance of consumer representation in national, regional and international consumer policy forums.

Action Points:

A regional/international consumer policy must

– be credible, high common level of consumer protection

– Be effectively enforced at the national level

– effectively engage consumer organisations

– integrate consumer interests in other policies

– Empower consumers

At the very end of the conference, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda appeared briefly to congratulate the participants and shake hand with each of the speakers. The conference was organized by the Cabinet Office of the Japanese government.