USDA/FAS GAIN report JA6043
Japan: planting seeds annual report

Report Highlights

Japan’s overall imports of planting seeds are up. Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries strengthens protections for registered seed varieties.

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary
II. Production
III. Trade
IV. Harmonized System – Tariff Codes for Planting Seeds in Japan.
V. Tariff
VI. Regulatory Updates – The Enforcement of Seeds and Seedlings Act Revised.
VII. Variety Registrations

Executive Summary

The strengthening of protections on the rights of variety growers has been continuously progressing this year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) announced an amendment to the ministerial ordinance on August 1, 2006 to increase the number of seeds and seedlings which are forbidden from home-breeding for the purposes of cultivation from 23 kinds to 81 kinds. This amendment will take effect on August 1, 2007.
MAFF also set up a sub-committee on August 2, 2006 to revise the Seeds and Seedlings Act in order to strengthen its punitive clause. The goal will be to mass measures that help Japanese breeders take legal actions to suspend imports of crops unlawfully produced from registered Japanese varieties.

Full report in PDF format: http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200609/146218888.pdf