GMO Update Report from Japan
10 January 2026
Consumers Union of Japan
1) Campaign to get 12 supermarket chains to not sell genome-edited tomatoes
In December 2020, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare accepted a notification concerning the sale of high-GABA tomatoes (Sanatech Seed’s “Sicilian Rouge High GABA”), which is Japan’s first genome-edited food product.
We, as consumers, are concerned about the market circulation of this genetically manipulated genome-edited food. This is because the government made the notification of genome-edited organisms voluntary, failed to assess environmental impacts or food safety, and did not mandate labelling.
As there is currently no labelling requirement, we consumers cannot distinguish whether a product is genome-edited or not. If this situation continues, we must feel uneasy about all tomatoes and tomato products. Furthermore, selling products without labelling them as genome-edited foods infringes upon consumers’ rights to know and choose. Therefore, we request that retail companies refrain from selling genome-edited crops and inquire about their sales policies.
2) Food labelling campaign
We held a rally and meeting on 3 December 2025 requesting mandatory labelling of genome-edited foods: ‘Label It! Genome-Edited Foods – Let’s Make Our Voices Heard from Local Communities to the Nation’ Citizens’ Assembly. It was held in-person at the Japanese Parliament in Tokyo and online. Speakers included councillors from local governments that have adopted statements calling for genome-editing labelling in many cities around Japan.
Ten Genome-edited foods are now approved and becoming available for sale one after another. Processed foods (tomato purée and dried tomatoes) are also being sold. Fish varieties including pufferfish, sea bream, flounder, and tilapia are being sold or are approved for sale, alongside imported crops such as maize and potatoes.
When genetically modified foods first appeared in 1996, there was also no labelling. Consequently, consumers across Japan lobbied their local prefectural and municipal assemblies, compelling them to pass resolutions demanding labelling from the national government. Many local authorities adopted ‘Opinion Papers Demanding Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods’ and submitted them to the government and Parliament. This pressure moved the government, leading to the establishment of the current mandatory GM food labelling system. Though each of us individually may be small, by pooling our strength we can move the nation.
Update: Local councils are increasingly adopting opnion statements calling for the labeling of genome-edited foods. On 16 December 2025, the municipal assembly of Fuchu City, Tokyo; on 17/12, Ishikari Town, Hokkaido; on 18/12, Shiraoka City, Saitama Pref.; on 22/12, Koshimizu City, Hokkaido; on 24/12, Kawagoe City, Saitama Pref. and Aomori City, Aomori Pref. adopted such opinion statements. A total of six prefectural assemblies, including Aichi Pref., and 27 municipal assemblies, including Sapporo City, Hokkaido, have adopted similar opinion statements.
Source (English): https://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cbic/english/2026/journal2601.html
3) Survey on awareness of genome-editing
The Biotech Information Promotion Committee conducted a survey in October 2025 with the aim of understanding consumer awareness of Genetically modified foods and raising awareness of its acceptance. In addition, they investigated the awareness of genome-edited crops and fish, which began distribution in 2021.
Survey method: Internet survey (quantitative survey)
・Target: 2,000 men and women in their 20s to 50s nationwide (each gender and age × 250 samples)
・Research period: Late October, 2025
Regarding genome-edited foods, 58.2% of the total respondents said they did not know at all, and only 9.1% of those who understood the contents were. The majority of respondents in their 20s to 50s answered that they do not know at all, and it was found that knowledge about genome-edited foods was not widely disseminated regardless of age. In addition, 51.2% of the total respondents said they did not know at all, and the recognition was not widespread compared to the previous survey results (2021).
Source (Japanese): https://cbijapan.com/news/6253/
4) Genome-edited humans/babies
On 4 January 2026 the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced a policy prohibiting the implantation of fertilised eggs created using genome editing technology – which enables genetic modification – into human wombs, with penalties for violations. They are considering enacting new legislation to regulate the birth of genome-edited children, termed ‘genome-edited babies’.