Japan Moves toward Fully Lifting U.S. Fresh Potato Import Ban
Tokyo, Sept. 3 (Jiji Press)--Japan is advancing procedures that could lead to the full lifting of its ban on imports of fresh potatoes from the United States, even as concerns persist about quarantine issues and the impact on Japanese farmers' livelihoods. Last Friday, the agriculture ministry announced that it would hold a briefing this month on pests and diseases identified as possibly po...
Tokyo, September 3 (Jiji Press)--Japan is moving forward with the process that could eventually lead to the complete lifting of its ban on fresh potato imports from the United States, despite lingering concerns about quarantine issues and their potential effects on Japanese farmers. On Friday, the agriculture ministry disclosed plans to hold a briefing on pests and diseases that might jeopardize domestic agriculture if introduced through potatoes.
Following this, the ministry intends to evaluate specific quarantine measures before reaching a final determination on permitting imports. Although the removal of the import ban might take several years, many individuals remain skeptical about permitting U.S. potatoes, given their status as one of the world's leading producers. Agriculture minister Norikazu Suzuki affirmed the government's commitment to addressing the discussions resolutely during a press conference on Friday.
While Japan typically enforces a ban on fresh potato imports to prevent pest infestations, an exemption was granted in 2006 for U.S. potatoes specifically utilized in potato chip production. The agriculture ministry initiated procedures for considering the lift of the ban, following a World Trade Organization agreement in response to a U.S. request in 2020 to permit its potatoes for general distribution.
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