Japan: Japan Opens Public Comment on GE Labeling for Nutritionally Enhanced Rapeseed Varieties

On October 13, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) opened a public comment period for proposed revisions to the genetically engineered (GE) labeling requirements of the Food Labeling Standards. The revision proposes to add rapeseed varieties that produce eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to a list of nutritionally enhanced GE products that require GE labeling, called the Specific GE Products. If adopted, CAA will require GE labeling on products derived from these rapeseed varieties even if no foreign genetic material remains in highly refined products, such as canola oil. CAA will accept comments in Japanese through November 12, 2022.