Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Office of Import Food Safety, Food
Inspection and Safety Division,
Pharmaceutical Safety and
Environmental Health Bureau,
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Results of Monitoring and Guidance
Based on the Imported Foods Monitoring and
Guidance Plan for FY 2016

August 2017
Food Inspection and Safety Division,
Pharmaceutical Safety and Environmental Health Bureau,
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Inspection Results of Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan for FY 2016

Introduction

 Foods, additives, apparatus, containers and packaging and toys (hereinafter referred to as "foods") imported by Japan in 2016 amounted to 32.30 million tons across 2.34 million import notifications. According to the "2016 Food Balance Sheet" published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the food self-sufficiency ratio in Japan is 40% (combined food self-sufficiency ratio by calorie intake), and 60% based on calorie intake is dependent on imports.
 In order to ensure the safety of foods imported into Japan (hereinafter, "imported foods"), the government established the Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan for 2016 (hereinafter, "the Plan"). The Plan is based on the Guidelines for Monitoring and Guidance for Food Sanitation (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 301, 2003) as per the provisions of Article 23, paragraph 1 of the Food Sanitation Act (Act No. 233, 1947; hereinafter, "the Act"), and public comments were collected and risk communication was carried out. The Plan was published in the Official Gazette as an official report according to the provisions of paragraph 3 of the same article, and monitoring and guidance for imported foods has been conducted based upon the Plan.
 The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare published a recently compiled overview of the implementation of inspections of imported foods including monitoring and ordered inspections carried out under the Plan, the implementation of monitoring and guidance for importers, and the consultations with exporting countries.

Reference: "Monitoring of Imported Foods – For the Safety of Imported Food"
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/shokuhin/yunyu_kanshi/index.html

1. Overview of the Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan for FY 2016

1 What Is the Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan?

It is the plan for the implementation of monitoring and guidance for the import of foods by the Japanese government as stipulated by Article 23, paragraph 1 of the Act.
Purpose: To further ensure the safety of imported foods by the national government promoting intensive, effective and efficient monitoring and guidance for imported foods and importers.

2 Principles of Monitoring and Guidance for Imported Foods

Measures pertaining to ensuring food safety at three stages, namely, in the exporting country, at the time of importation, and in domestic distribution, shall be implemented from the perspective of Article 4 (that is, food safety shall be ensured internationally and domestically by taking the necessary measures appropriately at each stage of the food supply processes) of the Food Safety Basic Act (Act No. 48 of 2003).

3 Priority Items for Monitoring and Guidance
  • *1: Systematic inspection based on a statistical approach considering the import volume and violation rate for each type of food.
  • *2: Inspection for products with a high probability of violation where an inspection is ordered for the importer. Import and distribution is not permitted without the results being in compliance with the Act.
  • *3: Measures whereby the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare prohibits sale or import of specific foods, etc., without inspection, in a case where it is deemed necessary to prevent harm.
4 Promotion of Safety Measures in Exporting Countries
5 Guidance on Voluntary Sanitation Control by Importers

2. Results of Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan for FY 2016

 To ensure the safety of imported foods, measures have been taken as described below by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and at quarantine stations based on the fundamental approach stipulated by Article 4 of the Food Safety Basic Act that necessary measures for ensuring the safety of food shall be taken appropriately at each stage of food supply processes from production, manufacturing and processing in the exporting country to post-import domestic distribution.

(1) Examination of import notification in accordance with the provisions of Article 27 of the Act

Examination of notifications using
computer system

 An examination on compliance with the Act was made primarily with the standards and criteria for foods under the provisions of Article 11 (1) and Article 18 (1) of the Act (hereinafter, “standards and criteria”), and inspections were carried out as required based on import notifications made under the provisions of Article 27 of the Act.
 The number of import notifications made in FY 2016 was 2,338,765, and the weight of notified items was 32,300,000 tons. Among these imported notifications, inspections were carried out on 195,580 cases, of which 773 cases (running total of 803) were confirmed to be in violation of the Act, and steps were taken for their reshipment, disposal, etc. These accounted for 0.03% of the number of notifications (Table 1).

(2) Monitoring in accordance with the provisions of Article 28, paragraph 1 of the Act

Sampling at warehouse

 Monitoring inspection is conducted for the purpose of broadly monitoring the safety status of various imported foods. In order to conduct intensive, effective and efficient monitoring, inspection numbers and inspection items are specified taking into account previous importation data and violation rates of each food type, ensuring the inspection number required to enable detection of violations to a certain degree of statistical reliability.
 In FY 2016, monitoring inspection was conducted for 54,215 cases (98,164 cases compared to the planned cumulative total of 95,929 cases (implementation rate: approximately 102%)), and of which, 131 cases (running total of 136 cases) were confirmed to be in violation of the Act (Table 2), and steps were taken for recall, disposal, etc.
 For foods found to be violating the Act during monitoring inspection, in order to grasp the management state of the exporting country, inspection was carried out by raising the inspection rate for the same exporting country and the same food type to 30% as necessary, and the monitoring system was changed to normal for cases where the possibility of foods in violation of the Act being imported is low (no cases of similar violation have been found after 1 year has elapsed since the date of starting the enhanced monitoring inspections or after carrying out inspections for 60 cases at least) (Table 3). Additionally, when a certain food of a certain country was found to be violating the Act multiple times pertaining to agricultural chemical residues or veterinary drug residues, the food was then subject to ordered inspection upon each and every importation for having a high probability of violation of the Act (Table 4). For foods in which chemicals feared to have adverse health effects (e.g., aflatoxin) were detected, inspection was immediately enhanced as subjects of ordered inspection (Table 5).
 Regarding the inspection of agricultural chemical residues in processed food started in response to the cases of agricultural chemical poisoning due to frozen dumplings produced in China that occurred in January 2008, inspections were carried out on 11,065 cases in FY 2016 and no violation was found.

(3) Ordered inspection in accordance with the provisions of Article 26, paragraph 3 of the Act

 In order to prevent harm to public health, subject countries and regions, foods and items of inspection have been specified, and ordered inspections have been carried out under the provisions of Article 26, paragraph 3 of the Act for imported foods that are considered to have a high probability of violating the Act.
 As of March 31, 2017, 17 items from all exporting countries, and 69 items from 31 countries and 1 region were made subject to ordered inspection, and inspection was carried out for 56,877 cases (running total of 86,629 cases) in FY 2016. Of which, 235 cases (running total of 235 cases) were found to be in violation of the Act (Table 6), and steps were taken for re-shipment or disposal, etc.

Inspection System at time of Importation

(4) Violations

Breaking down violations by provision, 471 cases violated Article 11 of the Act (e.g., compositional standards for food (microbial, agricultural chemical residues, and veterinary drug residues) and standards for the use of additives in food), 206 cases violated Article 6 (e.g., adhesion of hazardous or toxic substances such as aflatoxin), 50 cases violated Article 18 (standards for apparatus or containers and packaging), 41 cases violated Article 10 (use of undesignated additives), 5 cases violated Article 9 (absence of health certificates of meat), which relates to health certificates of meat, and 2 cases violated Article 62 (mutatis mutandis application), which relates to criteria for toys (Table 7).
 Breaking down violations by inspection type, violations of standards on microbes in frozen foods, etc., were found in 190 cases (24.6%) (Table 8-1), violations relating to existence of hazardous or toxic substances and contamination with pathogenic microbes in 176 cases (22.8%) (Table 8-2), violations of standards on agricultural chemical residues in 120 cases (15.5%) (Table 8-3), violations relating to the use of undesignated additives and violations of criteria on the use of additives in 108 cases (14.0%) (Table 8-4), violations on standards of apparatus, containers and packaging in 50 cases (6.5%) (Table 8-5), violations relating to decay and deterioration (e.g., generation of unpleasant smell or mold) in 46 cases (6.0%) (Table 8-6), violations of standards on veterinary drug residues in 44 cases (5.7%) (Table 8-7), and other violations in 42 cases (5.4%) (Table 8-8).

1. Violations of standards on microbes (Table 8-1)
 By country, the rankings were China with 58 cases (28.9%), followed by Thailand with 26 cases (12.9%), and Vietnam with 22 cases (10.9%). The principle item in violation in these cases were microbial criteria (bacterial count, coliform bacteria, E. coli) as an index of contamination for frozen food with 139 cases (69.2%).

2. Violations relating to existence of hazardous or toxic substances and contamination with pathogenic microbes (Table 8-2)
 By country, the rankings were China and the USA with 47 cases (26.7%), followed by Italy with 16 cases (9.1%). The principle violation in these cases was adhesion of aflatoxin to peanuts in the USA and China, and detection of cyanides in pastry in Italy. The most common material responsible for these violations was mycotoxin (aflatoxin) in 145 cases (82.4%), followed by cyanides in 12 cases (6.8%), and radioactive materials in 8 cases (4.5%). By product, the rankings were peanuts (including processed peanut products) with 72 cases (41.0%), followed by almonds (including processed almond products) and maize with 12 cases (6.8%).

3. Violations of standards on agricultural chemical residues (Table 8-3)
 By country, the rankings were China with 26 cases (21.3%), followed by Venezuela with 15 cases (12.3%), and Ecuador with 10 cases (8.2%). The principle material responsible for violations in China was thiamethoxam in onion, and 2,4-D in cacao beans was responsible for all violations in Venezuela, while it was the principle material responsible for violations in Ecuador.
 By product, the rankings were cacao beans with 32 cases (26.2%), followed by sesame seeds with 18 cases (14.8%), and onion and kiwi with 5 cases (4.1%).

4. Violations relating to the use of undesignated additives and violations of criteria on the use of additives (Table 8-4)
 By country, the rankings were China with 27 cases (24.5%), followed by the USA with 11 cases (10.0%), and France and Vietnam with 7 cases (6.4%). The principle violation was the use of undesignated additives (cyclamic acid) in pastry and excessive sulfur dioxide residues in salt storage vegetables in China, the use of undesignated additives (TBHQ) in biscuits in the USA, the use of undesignated additives (potassium aluminum silicate) in chocolates in France, and excessive sulfur dioxide residues in seasoned dried products (fishes) and fruit preparations in Vietnam.
 The principle materials responsible for violations relating to the use of undesignated additives were TBHQ in 16 cases (14.5%), followed by cyclamic acid in 11 cases (10.0%), and coloring agents (azorubine, quinoline yellow) in 6 cases (5.5%). The principle materials responsible for violations of criteria on the use of additives were sulfur dioxide in 39 cases (35.5%), followed by sorbic acid in 13 cases (11.8%), and sodium copper chlorophyllin in 5 cases (4.5%).

5. Violations on standards on apparatus, containers and packaging (Table 8-5)
 By country, the rankings were China with 19 cases (34.5%), followed by Italy and Vietnam with 5 cases (9.1%).

6. Violations relating to decay and deterioration (e.g., generation of unpleasant smell or mold) (Table 8-6)
 By country, the rankings were the USA with 14 cases (30.4%), followed by Thailand with 11 cases (23.9%), and Australia with 9 cases (19.6%). The principle product in violation in these cases was rice in the USA, rice in all cases in Thailand, and barley in Australia.
 By product, the rankings were rice with 20 cases (43.5%), followed by wheat with 9 cases (19.6%), and soybeans with 7 cases (15.2%).

7. Violations of standards on veterinary drug residues (Table 8-7)
 By country, the rankings were Vietnam with 35 cases (79.5%), followed by China with 4 cases (9.1%), and India with 3 cases (6.8%). The principle material responsible for violations in these cases was enrofloxacin in shrimp in Vietnam, methylene blue in eels, leucomalachite green in shrimp and enrofloxacin in softshell turtle and large yellow croaker in China, and furazolidone was responsible for all violations in shrimp in India.
 By product, the rankings were shrimp with 32 cases (72.7%), followed by squid with 4 cases (9.1%), and thread-sail filefish with 3 cases (6.8%).

8. Other violations (Table 8-8)
 The principle violations in other violation cases were violation of compositional standards for food additives in 15 cases, violation of compositional standards in mineral water in 11 cases, and detection of genetically modified papaya that has not undergone safety assessment in 6 cases.

(5) Comprehensive import ban in accordance with the provisions of Article 8, paragraph 1 or Article 17, paragraph 1 of the Act

 When the violation of the Act is at a considerable degree and when deemed necessary for preventing occurrence of harm, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may ban the import or sale of specific foods from specific countries without requiring an inspection (comprehensive import ban).
 According to the “Guidelines for the Banning of the Sale or Import of Specific Foods under Article 8 (1) and Article 17 (1) of the Food Sanitation Act” (SHOKUHATSU No. 0906001 dated September 6, 2002), request for improvement is made to the exporting country, etc., and investigation, etc., on the status of sanitation control in the exporting country is conducted for imported foods that exceed a 5% violation rate in the last 60 ordered inspections. As a result, in FY 2016, no foods were subject to such measures.

(6) Emergency measures based on information from overseas on food safety issues

 The monitoring system at the time of importation has been enhanced and investigation into domestic distribution has been carried out, and appropriate measures including recalls of distributed goods and suspension of import notification were ordered after confirming a record of their import (Table 9), including possible contamination of frozen vegetable and frozen fruit with Listeria monocytogenes in the USA, possible contamination of gracilaria with Salmonella in the USA, and a fraudulent act in meat inspection for chicken meat in Brazil. The investigation was based on information on the overseas outbreaks of food poisoning or recall of food products in violation of laws that has been collected by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the National Institute of Health Sciences, and the Food Safety Commission of Japan.

(7) Promotion of safety measures in exporting countries

1. Bilateral consultations and on-site inspection (Table 10)
 Information on products in violation of the Act has been provided to the governments of exporting countries where the products were made subject to ordered inspection or enhanced monitoring inspections, and further, requests have been made through bilateral consultations for investigations into the causes of violations and for taking measures to prevent the recurrence of such violations. As a result of bilateral consultations, it was confirmed that recurrence prevention measures have been established in Taiwan for foods in which recycled waste oil was used.
 To confirm the adequacy of safety measures during the production and processing stages in the exporting country, with regards to, for example, observance of the Japan export verification program for beef (as a measure against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)) and promotion of sanitary measures in exporting countries relating to agricultural chemical residues, specialists were dispatched to carry out on-site inspection, etc., as necessary.
 For Irish, Canadian, Swedish, American and Polish beef, observance of the Japan export verification program was confirmed by on-site inspection as a regular audit at facilities authorized for export to Japan.
 For Filipino mango, in response to the cause unfolding and recurrence prevention measures on the agricultural chemical residues presented by the Filipino government, on-site inspection was carried out. As a result, it was confirmed that the cause was unfolded and recurrence prevention measures have been taken, and relevant exporters were re-registered as exporters exempted from ordered inspections.
 For Paraguayan sesame seeds, in response to the cause unfolding and recurrence prevention measures on the agricultural chemical residues presented by the Paraguayan government, on-site inspection was carried out.
 For South Korean flounders, on-site inspection was carried out in order to talk about measures pertaining to Kudoa septempunctata.

2. Inspections of exporting countries (Table 11)
 To prevent occurrence of safety issues, information gathering has been systematically conducted as part of an investigation on safety measures in exporting countries, and on-site inspections have been carried out where necessary.
 In FY 2016, inspections were carried out for India, Singapore, Norway and Malaysia into initiatives taken by the national government, producers and manufacturers of the exporting countries.
 Along with the inspections, seminars on the import food monitoring systems and sanitation regulations in Japan were held targeting government officials and/or food suppliers.

3. The Japan-China Food Safety Promotion Initiative
 In May 2010, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan and the Minister of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of the People’s Republic of China signed a memorandum of understanding on the Japan-China Food Safety Promotion Initiative. As a result, the first ministerial meeting was held and working-level consultations and field studies were conducted. Both parties determined that bilateral exchange and cooperation should continue to be promoted in the field of safety for food exports and imports between the two countries.
 For FY 2016, a working-level consultation was held, and the Chinese side provided an explanation on the sanitary measures for exported foods. The Japanese side requested the Chinese side to take effective and practical preventive measures in cooperation with agencies related to China’s domestic and exported food sanitation measures regarding aflatoxin in peanuts, agricultural chemical residues and shellfish poisons in bivalves and agricultural chemical residues in oolong tea and edamame, and to continue to ensure the safety of foods exported to Japan.
 More details on the results, etc., of the Japan-China Food Safety Promotion Initiative are posted at the URL below.

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/shokuhin/yunyu_kanshi/exporter/index.html

4. Technical cooperation
 In order to take measures against agricultural chemical residues in sesame seeds in Paraguay, in addition to dispatching long-term service specialists, specialists were dispatched from quarantine stations during the period from June 18 to July 4, 2016.
 In order to provide support in establishing a system to swiftly gather and analyze information and to take measures for any food safety-related problems in Indonesia, long-term service specialists have been dispatched since August 2016.
 Additionally, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, quarantine stations, quarantine and inspection centers for imported foods, etc., accepted trainees from governmental agencies of exporting countries and provided explanations on the import food monitoring systems, etc., in Japan, and exchanged opinions.

(8) Guidance on implementation of voluntary safety management by importer

Seminar at a Quarantine

 Quarantine stations are to promote voluntary safety management of imported foods through seminars and pre-import guidance (import consulting), based on the Monitoring and Guidance Plan.
 In FY 2016, a total of 88 seminars were held at training courses and workshops held by quarantine stations in Japan and related organizations, to which a total of 2,669 people attended.
 Additionally, pre-import guidance (import consulting) was conducted for 24,180 cases, of which 410 cases (running total of 489 cases) were identified as not compliant with the Act (Table 12).
 Breaking down the pre-import guidance (import consulting) cases which were not compliant with the Act by provision, 223 cases violated Article 11 of the Act, 210 cases violated Article 10, and 1 case violated Article 62 (Table 13).
 By country, the rankings of violation cases were the USA with 87 cases (17.8%), followed by France with 60 cases (12.3%), and Italy with 38 cases (7.8%) (Table 14).
 Where the pre-import guidance (import consulting) determined non-compliance with the Act, appropriate measures were taken to ensure compliance, and guidance was given to suspend import until improvements were made. After improvements were made and documentation demonstrating compliance with the Act was provided, guidance was given as necessary to confirm in advance the fulfillment of standards and criteria for said foods by, for instance, carrying out inspections.
 In regard to undesignated additives (Article 10 of the Act), the number of violation cases identified at the time of importation was 41, while the number of non-compliance cases identified during pre-import guidance (import consulting) was 210, indicating that pre-import guidance (import consulting) promoted voluntary safety management by importers and prevented import of foods that violate the Act.

(9) Disclosure of information on violations of imported foods, and cooperation with prefectures

 For cases violating the Act, details including the names of importers and imported foods in violation of the Act were published on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website, based on the provisions of Article 63 of the Act, in order to clarify the harm in terms of the food sanitation. The content of improvement measures, the cause of the violation, and the status of measures taken to rectify the matter (e.g., disposal) were published as identified.
 For imported foods that were identified to be in violation of the Act during inspection at the time of importation yet had already passed customs, the relevant importer was instructed to promptly recall such imported foods in cooperation with the relevant prefectural governments.
 When imported foods already on the domestic market were identified to be in violation of the Act during inspections by prefectural governments, the inspection system at the time of importation was enhanced as necessary (Table 15).

(10) Provision of information to the people

 Regarding risk communication on the safety of foods, in January 2017, in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, information was provided to consumers, food business operators, etc., about the situation of guidance on monitoring of imported foods, content of the Monitoring and Guidance Plan, etc., and opinions were exchanged.

Table 1 – Notifications, Inspections, and Violations (FY 2016)
Notifications
(cases)		 Imported Weight
(thousand tons)		 Inspections*1
(cases)		 Proportion*2
(%)		 Violations
(cases)		 Proportion*2
(%)
2,338,765 32,300 195,580
(56,877)*3 		8.4 773
(235)*3 		0.03
(0.41)*3
(FY 2015)
2,255,019		 31,900 195,667 8.7 858 0.04

*1 Inspections by authorities, registered inspection organizations and foreign official laboratories, deducting duplicates.

*2 Proportion as compared to notifications.

*3 Number of ordered inspections.

Table 2 – Implementation of Monitoring Inspections (FY 2016)
Food Groups Inspected Substances*1 Planned Number in FY Actual Number Violations
Livestock Foods
Beef, pork, chicken, horse meat, other poultry meat, etc. 		Antibacterial substances, etc. 1,879 2,008 1
Residual agricultural chemicals 1,191 1,658 0
Additives 118 135 0
Pathogenic microorganisms 657 644 0
Standards for constituents 415 373 0
Radiation irradiation 29 29 0
Removal of SRMs - 2,326 5
Processed Livestock Foods
Natural cheeses, processed meat products, ice cream, frozen (meat) products, etc. 		Antibacterial substances, etc. 2,182 2,218 0
Residual agricultural chemicals 1,697 1,807 0
Additives 1,247 1,400 1
Pathogenic microorganisms 3,584 3,649 0
Standards for constituents 1,937 2,171 3
Mycotoxins - 3 0
Aquatic Foods
Bivalves, fish, crustacea(shrimps, crabs), etc. 		Antibacterial substances, etc. - 2 2
Residual agricultural chemicals 2,572 2,750 3
Additives 1,134 1,905 1
Pathogenic microorganisms 297 311 0
Standards for constituents 1,074 1,431 0
Radiation irradiation 354 357 0
Processed Aquatic Foods
Processed fish products (fillet, dried or minced fish, etc.), Frozen food(aquatic animals, fish), processed marine product eggs, etc. 		Antibacterial substances, etc. 34 31 0
Residual agricultural chemicals 4,234 4,919 5
Additives 4,111 4,941 0
Pathogenic microorganisms 1,894 2,278 0
Standards for constituents 4,661 4,928 1
Radiation irradiation 4,930 4,879 36
Agricultural foods
Vegetables, fruit, wheat, maize, pulses, peanuts, nuts, seeds, etc. 		Antibacterial substances, etc. - 7 0
Residual agricultural chemicals 2,559 3,085 1
Additives 9,190 10,112 30
Pathogenic microorganisms 474 499 0
Standards for constituents 1,495 1,353 0
Mycotoxins 355 416 0
Genetically modified food 2,273 2,360 1
Radiation irradiation 469 454 0
Processed agricultural food
Frozen food(vegetables), processed vegetable products, processed fruit products, spice, instant noodles, etc. 		Antibacterial substances, etc. 119 143 0
Residual agricultural chemicals 598 716 0
Additives 6,800 8,076 11
Pathogenic microorganisms 4,551 5,273 2
Standards for constituents 956 1,550 1
Mycotoxins 2,648 3,087 9
Genetically modified food 2,774 2,915 3
Radiation irradiation 252 312 0
Other foods
Health foods, soups, seasonings, confectionery, cooking oil and fat, frozen food, etc. 		Antibacterial substances, etc. 424 436 0
Residual agricultural chemicals - 2 0
Additives 1,074 1,155 0
Standards for constituents 3,344 3,492 3
Mycotoxins - 5 0
Genetically modified food 598 465 5
Radiation irradiation 955 1,102 0
Beverages
Mineral waters, soft drinks,
alcoholic drinks, etc. 		Residual agricultural chemicals - 6 0
Additives 118 156 0
Standards for constituents 1,075 1,231 0
Mycotoxins 657 659 1
Genetically modified food 178 169 0
Additives / Apparatus, containers and packaging / Toys Standards for constituents 1,762 1,775 11
Total (gross) 95,929※2 98,164
Implementation rate of 102%		 136※3

※1：Examples of inspected substances

※2：10,000 cases of the total cases planned for the FY were part of enhanced monitoring.

※3：Total number of item-by-item inspections

Table 3 – Items Subject to Enhanced Monitoring Inspections in FY 2016*1(As of March 31, 2017*2)
Country/Region Subject Food Inspected Substances
China Asparagus Ametryn
Green soybeans Paclobutrazol
Taro(limited to Colocasia esculenta) Chlorpyrifos
Ginger Thiamethoxam
Flowering fern Acetochlor
Rape flower Haloxyfop
Chinese chive Triazophos, metalaxyl and mefenoxam
Garlic sprouts Chlorpyrifos
Welsh onions Tebufenozide
Hard clam Prometryn
Spinach Indoxacarb
Matsutake mushroom Chlorpyrifos
Eel Pendimethaline, Methylene blue
Cultured shrimp Furazolidone, Malachite green
Large yellow croaker Enrofloxacin
Lychees 4-CPA, Diflubenzuron
India Cardamom immature fruit Triazophos
Cumin seeds Iprobenfos
Egg Enrofloxacin
Chickpea Aflatoxin, Glyphosate
Fenugreek seeds Aflatoxin
Fennel seed Iprobenfos, Profenofos
Thailand Red hot pepper Triazophos, Propiconazole
Shrimp (for raw consumption) Vibrio parahaemolyticus (MPN)*2
Okra Imidacloprid, Pyridaben
Coriander Profenofos
Fresh lime leaves Profenofos
Balsam pear Metalaxyl and mefenoxam
Vietnam Green hot pepper Difenoconazole, Propiconazole
Red hot pepper Difenoconazole
Shrimp Oxytetracycline, Chloramphenicol
Bee larva Oxytetracycline
Cultured shrimp Sulfamethoxazole
Philippines Sea urchin (for raw consumption) Vibrio parahaemolyticus (MPN)*2
Banana Imidacloprid, Cypermethrin
Papaya Cypermethrin
Mango Azoxystrobin
Italy Chestnut Aflatoxin
Corns Aflatoxin
Pistachio processed products Aflatoxin
Ecuador Cacao beans Diuron, Pyrimethanil, Malathion
South Korea Ark shell (for raw consumption) Vibrio parahaemolyticus (MPN)*4
Perilla Diniconazole
Freshwater clam Endosulfan
Chile Grape Profenofos
Grape leaves Indoxacarb
Blueberry Streptomycin
France Parsnip Cyprodinil
Pigeon meat Oxytetracycline
Apple juice and Apple juice concentrate Patulin
U.S.A. Corns (popcorn only) Pirimiphos-methyl
Chicken Ethoxyquin
Propolis Chloramphenicol
Australia Rape or colza seeds Fenitrothion
Apple juice and Apple juice concentrate Patulin
Guana Cacao beans Imidacloprid, Chlorpyrifos
Spain Processed almond products Aflatoxin
Pistachio processed products Aflatoxin
Nepal Red pepper Ethion, Triazophos
Belgium Chicory Metalaxyl and mefenoxam
Parsnip Difenoconazole
Argentina Chia seed 2,4-D
Iran Pistachio Imidacloprid
United Kingdom Parsnip Tebuconazole
Egypt Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Profenofos
Austlia Horseradish Difenoconazole
Netherlands Cabbage Pencycuron
Canada Propolis  Chloramphenicol
Greece Honey Coumaphos
Costa Rica Banana Gibberellin
Colombia Cacao beans Fipronil
Syria Pistachio processed products Aflatoxin
Taiwan Carrot Acephate
Pakistan Rose Petal Triazophos
Brazil Mango Cypermethrin
Peru Quinoa Fipronil
Bolivia Chia seed 2,4-D
South Africa Grapefruit Epoxiconazole
Mexico Immature kidney beans Flonicamid
Mozambique Sesame seed 2,4-D
Morocco Chaste tree berries(Vitex agnus-castus) Aflatoxin
Rumania Egg Furazolidone

*1 Include the Items which were rescinded from inspection orders. Exclude items which were moved to inspection orders.

*2 Item which all (100%) import declarations were inspected as a measure to enhance inspections during the summer period, (Jun-Oct 2016).

*3 Item which 30% of import declarations were inspected as a measure to enhance inspections during the summer period, (Jun-Oct 2016)

Table 4 – Items Transferred to Inspection Order after Enhanced Monitoring Inspections in FY 2016
Country/Region Subject Food Inspected Substances
China Cumin seeds Profenofos
Immature peas Diniconazole
Egypt Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Chlorpyrifos
South Korea Oriental melon Chlorfenapyr
Spain Non glutinous rice Tebuconazole
Thailand Boiled crab (manufactures limited) Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Chile Kiwi fruit Fenhexamid
USA Celery Bifenthrin
Vietnam Shrimp Sulfadiazine
Peru Cacao beans 2, 4-D
Table 5 – Items Immediately transferred to Inspection Order in FY 2016
Country/Region Subject Item Inspected Substances
South Korea Kimchi(manufactures limited) Enterohemorrhagis Escherichia coliO103
Cultured olive flounder (culturing farm limited) Kudoa septempunctata
China Foods (manufactures limited) Cyclamic acid
Lotus seeds Aflatoxin
Turkey Dried apple Aflatoxin
Pistachio processed products Aflatoxin
France Soft or semi-hard natural cheese (manufactures limited) Listeria monocytogenes
Table 6 – Major Items subject to Ordered Inspections and Inspection Outcomes (FY 2016)
Country/Region Major subject foods Major Inspected Substances Inspections Violations
All Exporting Countries
(17 items)		 Dried figs, Chili peppers, Nuts, Mixed spices, Peanuts Aflatoxin 11,759 106
Manioc, beans containing cyanide Cyanide 399 3
Salted salmon roe Nitrite 278 0
Pufferfish Identification of fish species 0 0
China
(15 items)		 Vegetables(green soybeans, onion, spinach etc.), Lychees, Oolong tea, Cumin seed Diflubenzuron, Thiamethoxam, Fipronil, Difenoconazole, etc. 19,465 11
Bivalve Paralytic shellfish poison, Diarrhetic shellfish poison 9,432 0
Eel, Soft-shelled turtle, Hard clam Enrofloxacin, Oxolinic acid, Sulfadimidine, Prometryn 3,115 4
All processed products Cyclamic acid 829 0
Lotus seed Aflatoxin 8 0
Thailand
(7 items)		 Vegetables(okra, green asparagus etc.), Fruits
(mango, banana etc.)		 Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, Propiconazole, EPN, etc. 2,253 0
Boiled crab Vibrio parahaemolyticus (MPN) 32 0
India
(7 items)		 Cultured shrimp Furazolidone 1,508 3
Cumin seed, Chili peppers, Chickpea, Black tea Glyphosate, Triazophos, Profenofos, Hexaconazole 200 5
Cassia torea, Fenugreek seed Aflatoxin 168 3
South Korea
(6 items)		 Bivalves Paralytic shellfish poison, Diarrhetic shellfish poison 130 0
Chili pepper, Tomatos, Paprika, Cherry tomatos Chlorpyrifos, Fluquinconazole, 77 0
Cultured olive flounder Enrofloxacin, Oxytetracycline 6 0
Italy
(5 items)		 Pistachio, Processed almond products Aflatoxin 417 2
Non glutinous rice Pirimiphos-methyl 31 0
Natural cheese Listeria monocytogenes、Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26 25 1
USA
(4 items)		 Corns, Pistachio Aflatoxin 2,966 13
Celery Bifenthrin 395 2
Other (23 countries and 1 region ; total 35 items) 33,128 82
Total (Gross)*1
(Actual) *2		 86,629
56,877		 235
235

*1 Gross number of inspection cases by inspected substances.

*2 Number of notification cases for which inspections were carried out

Table 7 – Violations by Legal Provision (FY 2016)
Provision violated Violations (cases) Proportion(%) Brief details of Violation
Article 6
(Foods and additives prohibited to distribute)		 206(Gross)
206(Actual)		 25.7 Aflatoxin contamination in almonds, dried fig, walnut, cassia seed, spice, sesami seed, chia seeds, corns, lotus seeds, job's tears, pistachio, brazil nuts, dried apple, peanut, etc.; detection of cyanide from seeds of flax, cassava, etc; detection of Enterohemorrhagis Escherichia coli from kimchi; detection of methanol from brandy; decay, deterioration and fungus formation due to accidents during the transport of barley, rice, coffee bean, wheat, soybeans, etc.
Article 9
(Limitation on distribution, etc. of diseased meat)		 5(Gross)
5(Actual) 		0.6 No health certificate attached
Article 10
(Limitation of distribution, etc. of additives)		 42(Gross)
41(Actual) 		5.2 Use of unspecified additives such as TBHQ, Azorubin, Dipotassium inosinate, Quinoline Yellow, dipotassium guanylate, Potassium aluminium silicate, Cyclamic acid, Sodium ethoxide, Potassium iodate, carbon monoxide.
Article 11
(Standards and criteria for foods and additives)		 493(Gross)
471(Actual) 		61.4 Violation of standards for constituents for vegetables or frozen vegetables (excess of standards on residual agricultural chemicals), violation of standards for constituents for animal foods, aquatic foods and processed products (excess of standards on residual veterinary drugs, excess of standards on residual agricultural chemicals), violation of standards for constituents for other processed products (coliform bacteria test, etc.), violation of criteria on use of additives (sucralose, sorbic acid, SO₂ etc.), and violation of standards for constituents for additives, detection of radioactive substance, detection of genetically modified food that has not undergone safety assessment.
Article 18
(Standards and criteria for apparatus, containers and packaging)		 55(Gross)
50(Actual) 		6.8 Violation of materials standards for raw materials
Article 62
(Mutatis mutandis application for toys)		 2(Gross)
2(Actual) 		0.2 Violations of standards for toys
Total 803(Gross) *1
773(Actual) *2 		 

*1 Gross number of inspection cases by inspected substances.

*2 Number of notification cases for which inspections were carried out

Table 8-1 – Violations of standards on microbes (FY 2016)
Country of production Item category Violation details Cases*
China Frozen food (fish) Bacterial count (5), Coliform bacteria (3), E.coli (2) 58
Frozen food (vegetable) Coliform bacteria (3), E.coli (3), Bacterial count (2)
Frozen food (shellfish) Bacterial count (4), Coliform bacteria (3)
Fish paste product Coliform bacteria (5)
Frozen food (squid) E.coli (3), Bacterial count (2)
Frozen food (marine animal) Bacterial count (2), Coliform bacteria (2)
Frozen food (other foods) Bacterial count (2), Coliform bacteria, E.coli
Hermetically packaged, Pressure and heat sterilized food product Possible microbes (4)
Frozen food (meat) Coliform bacteria (2), E.coli
Heat processed meat product Coliform bacteria, E.coli
Frozen fresh fish and shellfish for raw consumption Bacterial count, Coliform bacteria
Frozen food (shrimp) Bacterial count
Frozen food (bean) Coliform bacteria
Boild crab Bacterial count
Boild octopus Bacterial count
Thailand Frozen food (squid) Coliform bacteria (4), Bacterial count (2) 26
Frozen food (shrimp) Coliform bacteria (4), E.coli (2)
Frozen food (vegetable) Bacterial count (4), Coliform bacteria (2)
Frozen food (fish) Coliform bacteria, E.coli
Fish paste product Coliform bacteria (2)
Ice milk Coliform bacteria
Frozen fresh fish and shellfish for raw consumption Coliform bacteria
Frozen food (grain) E.coli
Frozen food (fruit) Coliform bacteria
Vietnam Frozen food (shrimp) Coliform bacteria (4), Bacterial count (2), E.coli (2) 22
Frozen fresh fish and shellfish for raw consumption Coliform bacteria (3), Bacterial count
Frozen food (vegetable) Coliform bacteria (2), Bacterial count
Frozen food (other foods) Bacterial count, E.coli
Frozen food (fish) E.coli
Fish paste product Coliform bacteria
Frozen food (shellfish) Coliform bacteria
Frozen food (squid) Coliform bacteria
Hermetically packaged, Pressure and heat sterilized food product Possible microbes
Philippines Frozen food (fruit) Coliform bacteria (6), Bacterial count 15
Frozen fresh fish and shellfish for raw consumption Bacterial count (2), Coliform bacteria
Frozen food (fish) Coliform bacteria (3)
Boild octopus Coliform bacteria (2)
Italy Flavoured Ice Bacterial count (2), Coliform bacteria 12
Frozen food (other foods) Coliform bacteria (2), Bacterial count
Powdered soft drink Bacterial count、Coliform bacteria
Ice milk Coliform bacteria
Ice cream with milk-solids Coliform bacteria
Frozen food (vegetable) E.coli
Mineral water Coliform bacteria
Indonesia Frozen food (shrimp) E.coli (4), Bacterial count (2), Coliform bacteria 12
Frozen food (fish) E.coli
Boild octopus Coliform bacteria
Frozen food (vegetable) Coliform bacteria
Powdered soft drink Coliform bacteria
Fruits juice for raw material Coliform bacteria
South Korea Frozen fresh fish and shellfish for raw consumption Coliform bacteria (2), Bacterial count 12
Boild crab Bacterial count (2)
Frozen food (other foods) Coliform bacteria (2)
Powdered soft drink Bacterial count (2)
Frozen food (fish) Coliform bacteria
Frozen food (marine animal) Bacterial count
Hermetically packaged, Pressure and heat sterilized food product Possible microbes
Taiwan Frozen food (vegetable) Bacterial count (2), Coliform bacteria (2) 10
Hermetically packaged, Pressure and heat sterilized food product Possible microbes (2)
Ice cream with milk-solids Coliform bacteria
Frozen food (other foods) Bacterial count
Flavoured Ice Coliform bacteria
Powdered soft drink Coliform bacteria
India Frozen food (grain) Bacterial count, E.coli 4
Frozen food (vegetable) E.coli
Frozen food (other foods) Bacterial count
Netherlands Frozen food (other foods) Coliform bacteria (3), Bacterial count 4
France Heat processed meat product E.coli 4
Ice cream Coliform bacteria
Frozen food (other foods) Bacterial count
Soft drink Coliform bacteria
Australia Frozen food (vegetable) Bacterial count (2) 3
Frozen food (fruit) Bacterial count
Peru Frozen food (fruit) Bacterial count, Coliform bacteria 3
Frozen food (vegetable) Bacterial count
Malaysia Frozen food (shrimp) Coliform bacteria 3
Frozen food (squid) Coliform bacteria
Instant coffee Coliform bacteria
Spain Powdered soft drink Bacterial count 2
Frozen food (vegetable) E.coli
USA Soft drink Coliform bacteria 2
Frozen food (grain) Bacterial count
United Kingdom Boild crab Bacterial count 1
Switzerland Powdered soft drink Bacterial count 1
Germany Powdered soft drink Bacterial count 1
Turkey Frozen food (vegetable) E.coli 1
Japan Frozen food (other foods) Coliform bacteria 1
Brazil Fruits juice for raw material Coliform bacteria 1
Belgium Frozen food (grain) E.coli 1
South Africa Powdered soft drink Coliform bacteria 1
Myanmar Frozen fresh fish and shellfish for raw consumption Coliform bacteria 1
Total   (Gross) *1 201
(Actual) *2 190

*1 Gross number of inspection cases by inspected substances.

*2 Number of violation cases for which inspections were carried out

Table 8-2 – Violations relating to existence of hazardous or toxic substances and contamination with pathogenic microbes (FY 2016)
Country/Region of Production Item Category Violation Details Cases*
China Peanut Aflatoxin (44) 47
Other foods Aflatoxin
Lotus seeds Aflatoxin
Job's tears Aflatoxin
USA Peanut Aflatoxin (17) 47
Corn Aflatoxin (12)
Almond Aflatoxin (6)
Pistachio nut Aflatoxin (4)
Walnut Aflatoxin (2)
Peanut butter Aflatoxin (2)
Confectionery Aflatoxin
Dried fig Aflatoxin
Cereal flour Cyanide
Preparations of nuts and seeds Cyanide
Italy Western confectionery Cyanide (4) 16
Almond Aflatoxin (2)
Natural cheese Listeria monocytogenes (2)
Unheated meat product Listeria monocytogenes (2)
Health food Radioactive substance
Chocolate Cyanide
Hot pepper（spice） Aflatoxin
Unheated meat product Salmonella spp.
Pistachio nut Aflatoxin
Macaroni Cyanide
Pakistan Mixed spice Aflatoxin (8) 9
Hot pepper（spice） Aflatoxin
France Fruit preparation Radioactive substance 7
Seed paste Aflatoxin
Natural cheese Listeria monocytogenes
Mix powder for bread Cyanide
Brandy Methanol
Blueberry jam Radioactive substance
Processed herb and spices Aflatoxin
Indonesia Confectionery Cyanide (2) 5
Nutmeg Aflatoxin (2)
Dressing Aflatoxin
Australia Almond Aflatoxin 5
Almond oil Aflatoxin
Preparations of nuts and seeds Aflatoxin
Mixed spice Aflatoxin
Peanut Aflatoxin
Thailand Job's tears Aflatoxin (3) 5
Hot pepper processed products Aflatoxin
Boiled crab(for raw consumption) Vibrio Parahaemolyticus
South Africa Peanut Aflatoxin (5) 5
Sri Lanka Hot pepper（spice） Aflatoxin (2) 4
Curry powder Aflatoxin
Cassava processed products Cyanide
India Cassia seed Aflatoxin (3) 3
Finland Dried fruits Radioactive substance (3) 3
Iran Dried fig Aflatoxin (2) 2
Spain Brandy Methanol 2
Western confectionery Aflatoxin
Turkey Pistachio nut Aflatoxin 2
Dried fig Aflatoxin
New Zealand Almond oil Aflatoxin (2) 2
Laos Job's tears Aflatoxin (2) 2
Argentina Peanut Aflatoxin 1
Ukraine Blueberry Radioactive substance 1
South Korea Kimchi Enterohemorrhagic E.coli
O103		 1
Singapore Peanut Aflatoxin 1
Taiwan Peanut Aflatoxin 1
Germany Dried apple Aflatoxin 1
Nigeria Sesami seed Aflatoxin 1
Philippines Boiled octopus Vibrio Parahaemolyticus 1
Brazil Brazil nut Aflatoxin 1
Belgium Fruit preparation Radioactive substance 1
Total (Gross) *1 154
(Actual) *2 153

*1 Gross number of Itemized cases violations

*2 Item number of the consultation to be a violation of the law

Table 8-3 – Violations of standards on agricultural chemical residues (FY 2016)
Country of Production Item Category Violation Details Cases*1
Standard Value Uniformity Standard
China Onion Thiamethoxam(5)   26
Short-neck clam   Prometryn(3)
Green soybeans   Difenoconazole(2), Paclobutrazol
Cumin Profenofos(3)  
Taro Chlorpyrifos(3)  
Snap peas   Diniconazole(3)
Eel Pendimethalin  
Garlic sprout Chlorpyrifos  
Welsh onion   Tebufenozide
Spinach   Indoxacarb
Immature pea   Diniconazole
Lychee 4-CPA  
Venezuela Cacao bean   2,4-D (15) 15
Ecuador Cacao bean   2,4-D (6), Pyrimethanil(3), Malathion 10
Myanmar Sesame seed   Imidacloprid(9) 9
India Cumin Profenofos(4) Iprobenfos(IBP) 8
Cardamom   Triazophos
Hot pepper   Triazophos
Fennel   Iprobenfos(IBP)
USA Celery   Bifenthrin(4) 8
Cacao bean   2,4-D (2)
Corn Pirimiphos methyl(2)  
Chile Kiwi fruit   Fenhexamid(5) 6
Blueberry Streptomycin  
France Calendula Chlorpyrifos(2)   5
Parsnip   Cyprodinil
Grape leaves   Indoxacarb
Rose petal   Triazophos
Thailand Okra   Pyridaben(2) 4
Red hot pepper   Propiconazole
Coriander Profenofos  
Tanzania Sesame seed   Imidacloprid(4) 4
Burkina Faso Sesame seed   Imidacloprid(4) 4
Ghana Cacao bean Cypermethrin Fenvalerate(2) 3
Iran Pistachio nut Imidacloprid(2)   2
South Korea Oriental melon   Chlorfenapyr(2) 2
Cote d'ivoire Cacao bean   2,4-D (2) 2
Spain Non glutinous rice Tebuconazole(2)   2
Philippines Banana Cypermethrin, Imidacloprid   2
Peru Cacao bean   2,4-D (2) 2
Nepal Hot pepper Ethion Triazophos 2
UAE Oolong tea Fipronil   1
Costa Rica Banana Gibberellin   1
Colombia Coffee bean Chlorpyrifos   1
Sri Lanka Oolong tea Fipronil   1
Germany Calendula Chlorpyrifos   1
Paraguay Sesami seed   Carbaryl(NAC) 1
Total (Gross) *1 122
(Actual) *2 120

*1 Gross number of Itemized cases violations

*2 Item number of the consultation to be a violation of the law

Table 8-4 – Violations relating to the use of undesignated additives and violations of criteria on the use of additives (FY 2016)
Country/Region of Production Item Category Violation Details Cases*
Undesignated additive Compositional standard
China Pickles (vegetable) Cyclamic acid Sucralose (2) 27
Confectionery Cyclamic acid (3)  
Instant noodles Cyclamic acid、TBHQ Polysorbate
Salted vegetable   Sulfur dioxide (3)
Health food Cyclamic acid Sulfur dioxide
Fruit in syrup Cyclamic acid Sulfur dioxide
Kashiwaba   Sulfur dioxide (2)
Dried vegetable Cyclamic acid Sulfur dioxide
Boiled vegetable   Sulfur dioxide
Seasonings Cyclamic acid  
Biscuits TBHQ  
Vegetable preparation TBHQ  
Salted mushroom   Sulfur dioxide
Dried japanese plum Cyclamic acid  
Chestnut in syrup   Sulfur dioxide
USA Biscuits TBHQ (5)   11
Health food Sodium ethoxide Sorbic acid (2)
Vegetable protein   Sulfur dioxide
Natural cheese   Natamycin
Dried plum   Sorbic acid
France Chocolate Potassium aluminium silicate (3)、Quinoline Yellow Iron sesquioxide 7
Soup Cyclamic acid  
Mix spice   Iron sesquioxide
Vietnam Seasoning dried product of fish   Sulfur dioxide (2) 7
Fruit preparation   Sulfur dioxide (2)
Pickles (vegetable)   Sorbic acid
Biscuits TBHQ  
Salt Potassium iodate  
India Biscuits   Sulfur dioxide (3) 6
Vegetable preparation TBHQ  
Frozen food (cereal) TBHQ  
Sugar   Sulfur dioxide
Belgium Chocolate Azorubin Sorbic acid (3)、Copper chlorophyll, Sodium copper chlorophyllin 6
Italy Pistachionut paste   Sodium copper chlorophyllin (2) 5
Wine   Sorbic acid (2)
Seasonings   Sulfur dioxide
Bangladesh Fruit juice drink   Sulfur dioxide (2)、Sorbic acid (2) 5
Biscuits   Sulfur dioxide
Philippines Pickles (olive) Dipotassium inosinate、Dipotassium guanylate   4
Unheated meat products   Sorbic acid
Seasonings   Sorbic acid
Brazil Processed agricultural products   Sulfur dioxide 4
Seasonings TBHQ  
Candies TBHQ  
Vinegar   Sulfur dioxide
Malaysia Fruit juice drink   Sulfur dioxide (3) 4
Soy sauce   Benzoic acid
Indonesia Frozen tuna Carbon monoxide (2)   3
Snakes meat processed   Sulfur dioxide
Thailand Fruit in syrup   Sulfur dioxide 3
Fruit preparation   Sulfur dioxide
Snack food Azorubin  
Taiwan Tapioca starch   Sulfur dioxide (2) 2
Philippines Biscuits TBHQ   2
Soup TBHQ  
Romania Western confectionery   Sodium copper chlorophyllin (2) 2
Russian federation Biscuits Azorubin   2
Other foods Azorubin  
United Kingdom confectionery   Iron sesquioxide 1
Sri Lanka Fruit juice drink   Benzoic acid 1
Serbia Vegetable protein   Sulfur dioxide 1
Tajikistan Dried apricot   Sulfur dioxide 1
Turkey Dried apricot   Sulfur dioxide 1
New Zealand Vegetable oil TBHQ   1
Panama Chili sauce   Nisin 1
Finland Chocolate Quinoline Yellow   1
South Africa Dried apricot   Sulfur dioxide 1
Mexico Frozen food (fruit)   Sulfur dioxide 1
Total (Gross) *1
(Actual) *2		 42
41		 68
67		 110
108

*1 Gross number of Itemized cases violations

*2 Item number of the consultation to be a violation of the law

Table 8-5 – Violations of standards on apparatus and containers (FY 2016)
Country/Region of Production Material type Violation Details Cases*
China Synthetic resin Evaporation residue(9)、Lead(2)、Antimony、Caprolactam、
Formaldehyde、Potassium permanganate consumption		 19
Combination Evaporation residue、Cadmium
Rubber Zinc(2)
Italy Synthetic resin Lead、Heavy Metals 5
Metal Lead(2)
Rubber Zinc
Vietnam Porcelain Lead(3) 5
Synthetic resin Cadmium
Combination Lead
United
Kingdom		 Synthetic resin Evaporation residue(2)、Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (2) 4
Korea Synthetic resin Evaporation residue、Potassium permanganate consumption 4
Rubber Zinc(2)
Thailand Rubber Zinc(2) 3
Porcelain enamel Cadmium
Taiwan Synthetic resin Evaporation residue(2)、Caprolactam 3
Germany Porcelain Lead(2) 3
Combination Evaporation residue
India Synthetic resin Evaporation residue(2) 2
Indonesia Porcelain enamel Cadmium(2) 2
France Synthetic resin Caprolactam 2
Combination Cadmium
USA Synthetic resin Dibutyltin Compounds 1
Sweden Porcelain Cadmium 1
Malaysia Rubber Zinc 1
Total (Gross) *1 55
(Actual) *2 50

*1 Gross number of Itemized cases violations

*2 Item number of the consultation to be a violation of the law

Table 8-6 – Violations relating to decay and deterioration (e.g., generation of unpleasant smell or mold) (FY 2016)
Country of Production Item Category Cases
USA Rice (7) 14
Wheat (6)
Soybean
Thailand Rice (11) 11
Australia Barley (5) 9
Wheat (2)
Rice (2)
Canada Soybean (2) 4
Barley
Wheat
Brazil Soybean (4) 4
Colombia Coffee bean (2) 2
Indonesia Seaweed 1
Ethiopia Coffee bean 1
Total 46
Table 8-7 – Violations of standards on veterinary drug residues (FY 2016)
Country of Production Item Category Violation details Cases*1
Excess of standard values Do not contain Non-detectable
Vietnam Shrimp   Enrofloxacin (13), Sulfadiazine(7) Furazolidone
(as AOZ) (7),
Sulfamethoxazole		 35
Squid     Chloramphenicol(4)
File fish     Chloramphenicol(3)
China Eel   Methylene blue   4
Shrimp     Leucomalachite green
Soft-shelled turtle   Enrofloxacin  
Large yellow croaker   Enrofloxacin  
Indea Shrimp     Furazolidone
(as AOZ) (3)		 3
France Pigeon meat Oxytetracycline     1
USA Propolis     Chloramphenicol 1
Total (Gross) *1 44
(Actual) *2 44

*1 Gross number of Itemized cases violations

*2 Item number of the consultation to be a violation of the law

Table 8-8 – Other violations (FY 2016)
Country of Production Material type Violation Details Cases*
USA Mineral water Compositional standard(5) 10
Food additive Compositional standard(3)
Unheated meat products manufacturing standard(2)
China Food additive Compositional standard(4) 6
Toys Compositional standard(2)
Thailand Food additive Compositional standard(3) 5
Mineral water Compositional standard
Pickled in syrup Unauthorised genetically modified papaya positive
Australia Natural cheeses(including Papaya) Unauthorised genetically modified papaya positive((3) 4
Flavoured Ice manufacturing standard
Spain Dried meat products Water activity(2) 3
Mineral water Compositional standard
Denmark Beef offal Non-attachment of health certificate(2) 3
Food additive Compositional standard
France soft drinks manufacturing standard(2) 3
Mineral water Compositional standard
Malaysia Mineral water Compositional standard(2) 3
Food additive Compositional standard
Ireland Beef offal Non-attachment of health certificate(2) 2
Germany Food additive Compositional standard(2) 2
Vietnam Frozen food (including Papaya) Unauthorised genetically modified papaya positive(2) 2
Italy Unheated meat products stroage standard 1
Indonesia Food additive Compositional standard 1
Canada Dried meat products Water activity 1
Brunei Mineral water Compositional standard 1
Poland Beef offal Non-attachment of health certificate 1
Japan soft drinks stroage standard 1
Total (Gross) *1 49
(Actual) *2 42

*1 Gross number of Itemized cases violations

*2 Item number of the consultation to be a violation of the law

Table 9 – Major Enhanced Monitoring based on Overseas Information (FY 2016)
Month of enhancement Subject country or region Subject food and details Background and status
May USA Frozen vegetable and frozen fruit
(Possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes)		 Information was received stating that in the USA possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes was found in frozen vegetable and frozen fruit and relevant products were recalled. When an import notification was made for such recall products, steps were taken for reshipment, etc.
December USA Gracilaria
(Possible contamination with Salmonella)		 Information was received stating that in the USA possible contamination with Salmonella was found in gracilaria and relevant gracilaria was recalled. When an import notification was made for such recall products, steps were taken for reshipment, etc.
March Brazil Chicken meat, etc.
(Fraudulent act in meat inspection)		 Information was received stating that in Brazil some facilities were subject to suspension of operation or special inspections associated with a fraudulent act in meat inspection. When an import notification was made for products of relevant facilities, the import procedure was suspended. When an import notification was made for products of other facilities, steps were taken for enhanced inspections at the time of importation.
Table 10 – Major Bilateral Talks and On-site Inspections (FY 2016)
Subject item
(Inspection order item, etc.) 		Bilateral talks Date of on-site inspection, etc.
Taiwan, Foods
(recycled waste oil)		 In September 2014, recycled waste oil was mixed into cooking oil and sold as food ingredient and food using relevant oil was recalled, and consultation began. In March 2017, based on completion of the recall of relevant products and reports on recurrence prevention measures, etc., the monitoring system was changed to normal. –
The Philippines, Mango
(agricultural chemical residues)		 In March 2015, violations relating to agricultural chemical residues were found in cargo exported from exporters exempted from ordered inspections, and consultation began. In February 2016, on-site inspections were carried out and it was confirmed that the cause was unfolded and recurrence prevention measures have been taken, and the relevant exporters were re-registered as exporters exempted from ordered inspections. February 2016
Paraguay, Sesame
(agricultural chemical residues)		 In August 2013, relevant products were made subject to ordered inspections, and consultation began. Measures against agricultural chemical residues were taken by the Paraguayan government, and on-site inspections were carried out in March 2016. Talks are continuing. March 2016
South Korea, Flounder
(Kudoa septempunctata)		 Consultation began in April 2013. On-site inspections were carried out in December 2016 for verification of observance of a Japan export verification program and discussions about the cause and improvements. Talks are continuing. December 2016
Poland, Beef
(BSE)		 In November 2016, on-site inspections were carried out and observance of a Japan export verification program at facilities authorized for export to Japan was confirmed. November 2016
Sweden, Beef
(BSE)		 In December 2016, on-site inspections were carried out and observance of a Japan export verification program at facilities authorized for export to Japan was confirmed. December 2016
USA, Beef
(BSE)		 In December 2016, on-site inspections were carried out and the state of preparation for enforcing a Japan export verification program at facilities planned to be authorized for export to Japan was confirmed. December 2016
Ireland, Beef
(BSE)		 In February 2017, on-site inspections were carried out and observance of a Japan export verification program at facilities authorized for export to Japan was confirmed. February 2017
Canada, Beef
(BSE)		 In March 2017, on-site inspections were carried out and observance of a Japan export verification program at facilities authorized for export to Japan was confirmed. March 2017
Table 11 – Exporting Country Pre-Inspections (FY 2016)
India
Subject of inspection System investigation of foods exported to Japan in India
Relevant law
  • Food Safety and Standard Act (2006)
  • The Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act (1963)
  • Compendium of Orders of Fresh, Frozen and Processed Fish & Fishery Products (Order No. S.O.729(E); 2006)
  • Compendium of Notifications of Fresh, Frozen and Processed Fish & Fishery Products (Rule No. S.O.730(E); 2011)
  • Executive Instructions for Approval and Monitoring of Fish & Fishery Products for Export (2012) etc.
Summary Descriptions were given by representatives of the export regulation authorities of the Indian government, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, etc., about the food sanitation regulations in India, and opinions were exchanged. A seminar on import food monitoring systems and sanitation regulations in Japan was held targeting government officials.
Additionally, on-site inspections were carried out at spice manufacturing facilities, fish paste processing facilities and shrimp culture farms for the conditions of control, etc., and at export inspection institutions.
Singapore
Subject of inspection System investigation of foods exported to Japan in Singapore
Relevant law
  • Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority Act
  • Sale of Food Act
  • Wholesome Meat and Fish Act
  • Animal and Birds Act
  • Feeding Stuffs Act
  • Fisheries Act
  • Control of Plants Act
Summary Descriptions were given by representatives of the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore about the food sanitation regulations in Singapore, and opinions were exchanged. A seminar on import food monitoring systems and sanitation regulations in Japan was held targeting government officials and food suppliers.
Additionally, on-site inspections were carried out at cocoa powder manufacturing facilities, pastry manufacturing facilities, and meat processing facilities, for the conditions of control, etc.
Malaysia
Subject of inspection System investigation of foods exported to Japan in Malaysia
Relevant law
  • Food Act 1983
  • Food Regulations 1985
  • Food Hygiene Regulations 2009
Summary Descriptions were given by representatives of the Food Safety and Quality Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia about the food sanitation regulations in Malaysia, and opinions were exchanged. A seminar on import food monitoring systems and sanitation regulations in Japan was held targeting government officials and food suppliers.
Additionally, on-site inspections were carried out at syrup manufacturing facilities and chocolate manufacturing facilities, for the conditions of control, etc., and at export inspection institutions.
Norway
Subject of inspection System investigation of foods exported to Japan in Norway
Relevant law
  • General principles and requirements of food law (Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002)
  • Regulation on the hygiene of foodstuffs (Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004)
  • Specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004)
  • Specific rules for the organization of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption (Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004)
  • Official controls performed to verify compliance with feed and food law, as well as animal health and animal welfare rules (Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004)
  • The Food Safety Act
Summary Descriptions were given by representatives of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority about the food sanitation regulations in Norway, and opinions were exchanged. A seminar on import food monitoring systems and sanitation regulations in Japan was held targeting government officials and food suppliers.
Additionally, on-site inspections were carried out at salmon culture farms and seafood processing facilities, for the conditions of control, etc.
Table 12 – Outcomes of Import Consultations
  FY2012 FY2013 FY2014 FY2015 FY2016
Import consultations implemented 13,962 12,492 11,826 13,086 12,352
Import consultations on item-by-item basis 27,825 23,903 24,360 24,377 24,180
Violations on item-by-item basis 372 354 257 364 410

* Offices of Imported Food Consultation are set up in each quarantine station in Otaru, Sendai, Narita Airport, Tokyo, Yokohama, Niigata, Nagoya, Osaka, Kansai Airport, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Naha.

* Figures include only advance consultations implemented prior to import in Office of Imported Food Consultation

Table 13 – Number of Violations in Import Consultation by Provision (FY 2016)
Provision Violations (cases) Proportion(%) Details of major violations
Article 10
(Limitation on distribution, etc. of additives, etc.) 		250(Gross) *1
210(Actual) *2 		51.1 Use of Potassium aluminium silicate, Iodinated salt, Azorubin, Carboxymethylcellulose, Isobutane, Amidated pectin, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Croscarmellose sodium, Zinc oxide, Iodine, TBHQ, Magnesium lactate, Iron oxide, Quinoline yellow, Patent Blue V, L-Cysteine, Polyethylene glycol monostearate, Sodium ethylate, Potassium iodate, Formaldehyde, Black PN, Dimethyl dicarbonate, etc.
Article 11
(Standards and criteria for foods and additives)		 238(Gross) *1
223(Actual) *2 		48.7 Non-compliance with manufacturing standard of soft drink(inadequate sterilization), use of sodium benzoate in alcoholic beverages(use to inhibited foods), use of excessive amount of calcium carbonate in health food, etc.
Article 62
(Mutatis mutandis application for toys)		 1(Gross) *1
1(Actual) *2 		0.2 Violations of criteria for toys or their raw materials
Total 489 (Gross) *1
410 (Actual) *2		  

*1 Gross number of Itemized cases violations

*2 Item number of the consultation to be a violation of the law.

Table 14 – Cases of Import Consultations by County, Item and Violation details (FY 2016)
Country of Production Item Violation details Cases※2
USA Health food Use of unspecified additives(Croscarmellose Sodium(6), D-α-Tocopherol Succinate(3), Zinc oxide(3), Copper oxide(2), Para-aminobenzoic acid(2), Potassium iodide(2), Manganese ascorbate, N-Acetyl-L-cysteine, Complexes of chromium and amino acid, Complexes of selenium and amino acid, Complexes of molybdenum and amino acid, β-alanine, Chromium chloride, L-glutathione, Chromium oxide, Choline bitartrate, Zeaxanthin, Selenium, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate, Methanol)
Use to inhabited foods(Ferrous gluconate, Sorbic acid)
Use of excessive amounts(Calcium carbonate)		 35 87
Alcoholic beverages Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate(11)) 11
Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(TBHQ(5))
Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(6))		 11
Cereal preparations Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(8)) 8
Powdered soft drink Use of unspecified additives(Magnesium lactate(6), Magnesium citrate) 7
Additives Use of unspecified additives(Azorubine(4), Argon, Manganese gluconate) 6
Seasoning Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(2)) 2
Confectionery mix Use to inhabited foods(L-Cysteine monohydrochloride) 1
Canning Use to inhabited foods(Sulfur dioxide) 1
Soft drink Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate) 1
Other foods Use to inhabited foods(Chlorine dioxide) 1
Milk product Use to inhabited foods(Liquid paraffin) 1
Processed vegetables product Use of unspecified additives(Ethyl cellulose) 1
Oils and fats Use of unspecified additives(Argon) 1
France Chocolate Use of unspecified additives(Potassium aluminium silicate(13), Azorubine(3), Patent Blue V(3), Brown HT(2), Black PN(2), Quinoline yellow)
Use to inhabited foods(Iron sesquioxide(13), Potassium sorbate(5))		 42 60
Frozen food (confectionery) Use of unspecified additives(Amidated pectine(4), L-Cysteine)
Use to inhabited foods(L-Cysteine monohydrochloride, Iron sesquioxide)		 7
Canning Non-compliance with manufacturing standard (radiation exposure(4)) 4
Additives Use of unspecified additives(Oak chips, Quinoline yellow) 2
Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(Patent Blue(2)) 2
Alcoholic beverages Use of unspecified additives(Quinoline yellow) 1
Processed fruits product Use of unspecified additives(Azorubine) 1
Seasoning Residue of excessive amounts of additives (Potassium pyrosulfite) 1
Italy Additives Use of unspecified additives(Isobutane(10), Potassium aluminium silicate(10)) 20 38
Alcoholic beverages Use of unspecified additives(Azorubine(3), Patent Blue V(2), L-Malic acid) 6
Confectionery Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(4)) 4
Soft drink Non-compliance with manufacturing standard(inadequate sterilization)
Use of unspecified additives(D-Glucuronolactone, Quinine hydrochloride dihydrate)		 3
Seasoning Use to inhabited foods(Sorbic acid(2), Potassium sorbate) 3
Meat products Non-compliance with manufacturing standard(inadequate use of sodium nitrite(2)) 2
Australia Health food Use of unspecified additives(Iron oxide(5), Croscarmellose Sodium(4), Sodium ethylate(4), D-α-Tocopherol Succinate(2), Sodium lauryl sulfate(2), Quinoline yellow, Zinc citrate, Iron oxide red, Iron oxide black, Choline bitartrate, Ferrous fumarate, Potassium iodate)
Use to inhabited foods(Sodium selenite) Use of excessive amounts(Calcium phosphate) 		26 27
Soft drink Use of unspecified additives(Redbark cinchona extract obtained from undefined substances) 1
Vietnam Seasoning Use of unspecified additives(Carmin, Brown HT)
Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate(4), Benzoic acid(2), Sorbic acid, Potassium sorbate)
Use of excessive amounts(Nisin)		 11 26
Soft drink Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(9)) 9
Instant noodle Use to inhabited foods (Sodium benzoate, BHA, BHT) 3
Noodles Use to inhabited foods(Food Yellow no.4, Food Yellow no.5) 2
Frozen food (fish) Use of unspecified additives(Diphosphorus pentoxide)  1
Taiwan Health food Use of unspecified additives(Sodium lauryl sulfate(6)) 6 21
Soft drink Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(4))
Non-compliance with manufacturing standard(inadequate sterilization) 		5
Confectionery Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate) 2
Syrup Use of excessive amounts(Acesulfame potassium(2)) 2
Pickled vegetables Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(2)) 2
Processed agricultural product Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(2)) 2
Seasoning Use to inhabited foods(Disodium glycyrrhizinate) 1
Frozen food (other foods) Use of excessive amounts(Propylene glycol) 1
South Africa Alcoholic beverages Use of unspecified additives(Polyethylene glycol monostearate(5))
Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate(12))		 17 18
Chocolate Use to inhabited foods(Sodium stearoyl lactylate) 1
Spain Alcoholic beverages Use of unspecified additives(Potassium aluminium silicate(3))
Use to inhabited foods(Iron sesquioxide(2), Ester gum)		 6 17
Frozen dough Use of unspecified additives (L-Cysteine(4)) 4
Soft drink Use of unspecified additives (Dimethyl dicarbonate(3)) 3
Confectionery Use of unspecified additives (Amidated pectine)
Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate)		 2
Chocolate Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate) 2
Thailand Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(Iodine, Iodinated salt)
Use to inhabited foods(Sodium propionate(2))          
Use of excessive amounts(Propylene glycol(2)) 		6 17
Processed seaweed product Use of unspecified additives(Iodine(4)) 4
Processed fruits product Residue of excessive amounts of additives (Sodium pyrosulfite, Sulfur dioxide) 2
Soft drink Non-compliance with manufacturing standard(inadequate sterilization)
Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate) 		2
Health food Use of unspecified additives(Butylene glycol) 1
Processed Livestock product Use to inhabited foods(Color) 1
Frozen food (confectionery) Use to inhabited foods(Sodium stearoyl lactylate) 1
South Korea Health food Use of unspecified additives(Zinc oxide(3), DL-Isoleucine, DL-Valine)
Use of excessive amounts(Calcium carbonate, Propylene glycol) 		7 16
Seasoning Use to inhabited foods(Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate(4), Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate)                    
Use of excessive amounts(Silicone resin(2)) 		7
Soft drink Use of unspecified additives(Zinc oxide) 1
Frozen dough Use to inhabited foods(Sodium stearoyl lactylate) 1
United Kingdom Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(Iodinated salt(4)) 4 14
Additives Use of unspecified additives(Potassium aluminium silicate(3))
Non-compliance with manufacturing standard(Peracetic acid composition) 		4
Alcoholic beverages Use of unspecified additives(Azorubine, Quinoline yellow) 2
Health food Use of unspecified additives(Zinc citrate)          
Violation of standards on use of additives (Silicon dioxide) 		2
Flour paste Use of unspecified additives(Quinoline yellow, Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate) 2
Germany Health food Use of unspecified additives(Iron oxide(2), Chromium chloride, Sodium cyclamate, Potassium iodate)         
Use to inhabited foods(Sodium selenite) 		6 14
Meat products Use of unspecified additives(Potassium iodate(3)) 3
Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(Copper chlorophyllin(2)) 2
Soft drink Use of unspecified additives(Synthetic caffeine(2)) 2
Additives Use of unspecified additives(Lutein) 1
Philipines Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(Iodinated salt(4))         
Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(4)) 		8 12
Meat products Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(2)) 2
Processed fruits product Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate) 1
Chocolate Use of excessive amounts(Sodium benzoate) 1
Armenia Alcoholic beverages Use of unspecified additives(Carboxy methyl cellulose(11)) 11 11
India Spice Use of unspecified additives(Iodinated salt(8)) 8 11
Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(Flavour) 1
Instant noodle Use of unspecified additives(Iodinated salt) 1
Seasoning Use of unspecified additives(Iodinated salt) 1
Newzealand Milk product Use of unspecified additives(Azorubine)              
Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(8))		 9 11
Processed Livestock product Use to inhabited foods(Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate(2)) 2
Finland Soft drink Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(7)) 7 11
Processed fruits product Use of unspecified additives(Amidated pectine(4)) 4
Malaysia Instant noodle Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate(5)) 5 11
Powdered soft drink Use to inhabited foods(Sodium stearoyl lactylate(4)) 4
Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(Flavour) 1
Other foods Use of unspecified additives(Azorubine)   1
Singapore Seasoning Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(6))           
Use of excessive amounts(Sodium benzoate(2)) 		8 8
Zimbabwe Seasoning Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate(4), Potassium sorbate(4)) 8 8
Russia Processed fruits product Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate(5)) 5 8
Sugar Use of unspecified additives(Formaldehyde(3)) 3
China Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(Zinc lactate)             
Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate)		 3 7
Instant noodle Use to inhabited foods(Sodium stearoyl lactylate(2)) 2
Seasoning Use to inhabited foods(Sorbic acid) 1
Processed vegetables product Residue of excessive amounts of additives(Sulfur dioxide) 1
Denmark Processed aquatic product Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate(4), Potassium sorbate) 5 5
Croatia Alcoholic beverages Use to inhabited foods(Ester gum(2)) 2 4
Syrup Use of unspecified additives(Azorubine, Black PN) 2
Estonia Frozen food (fish) Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate, Saccharin, Potassium sorbate) 3 3
Mexico Alcoholic beverages Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate) 1 3
Frozen food (fruit) Violation of standards on use of additives (Peracetic acid) 1
Frozen food (cereals) Use to inhabited foods(L-Cysteine monohydrochloride) 1
Indonesia Processed seed product Use of unspecified additives(TBHQ) 1 2
Toys Non-compliance with manufacturing standard(use of unspecified additives) 1
Netherlands Alcoholic beverages Use of unspecified additives(Potassium ascorbate)
Use of excessive amounts(Potassium sorbate)		 2 2
Swizerland Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(Carbon black) 1 2
Sugar Use to inhabited foods(Sorbic acid) 1
Turkey Seasoning Non-compliance with manufacturing standard (radiation exposure) 1 2
Confectionery mix Non-compliance with manufacturing standard (radiation exposure) 1
Brazil Health food Use of unspecified additives (Polyethylene glycol) 1 2
Soft drink Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate) 1
Belgium Confectionery Use of unspecified additives(Flavour) 1 2
Soft drink Non-compliance with manufacturing standard(inadequate sterilization)  1
Poland Soft drink Use of unspecified additives (Magnesium citrate, Pantothenic acid) 2 2
Israel Additives Use of unspecified additives(Levan obtained from undefined substances) 1 1
Canada Confectionery Use to inhabited foods (Sodium propionate) 1 1
Greece Processed vegetables product Use to inhabited foods(Sodium benzoate) 1 1
Sweden Frozen food (other foods) Use to inhabited foods(Potassium sorbate) 1 1
Pakistan Soft drink Use of unspecified additives(Carboxy methyl cellulose) 1 1
Paraguay Processed fruits product Use of excessive amounts(Potassium sorbate) 1 1
Undetermined Seasoning Use of unspecified additives(Iodine) 1 1
Total 489

*Gross number of cases violations

Table 15 – Imported Food Violations Detected IN Domestic Monitoring (FY 2016)
Country of Production Item Violation Details Cases*
South Korea Cultured olive flounder Kudoa septempunctata(3) 3
Thailand Okra Imidacloprid 3
Confectionery TBHQ
Curry TBHQ
USA Beef No health certificate attached 2
Orange Propiconazole
Sri Lanka Cocktail onion(pickles) Benzoic acid 1
China Seasoned bamboo shoots Dehydroacetic acid 1
New Zealand Mozzarella cheese Unauthorised genetically modified rennet 1
South Africa Grapefruit Imazalil 1
Total 12

*Gross number of cases violations.

(Reference) Description of Key Terms
Term Description
Nitrite Additive (color fixative agent)
Acesulfame potassium Additive (sweetener)
Acetochlor Agricultural chemical (anilide herbicide)
Acephate Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous insecticide)
Sodium selenite Additive (nutrient)
Azoxystrobin Agricultural chemical (strobilurin fungicide)
Aflatoxin Mycotoxin produced by the fungus Aspergillus, etc.
Ametryn Agricultural chemical (triazine herbicide)
Benzoic acid Additive (preservative)
Sodium benzoate Additive (preservative)
Genetic modification Technology such as fragmentation of bacterial genes, followed by arrangement of the gene sequences or introducing the arranged genes into other organism’s genes.
Iprobenfos Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous insecticide)
Imazalil Additive (antibiotical agent)
Imidacloprid Agricultural chemical (Neonicotinoid insecticide)
Ester Gum Additive (gum base)
Ethion Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous insecticide)
Calcium Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate Additive (antioxidizing agent)
Ethoxyquin Feed additive (antioxidant agents)
Epoxiconazole Agricultural chemical (triazole fungicide)
Endosulfan Agricultural chemical (organochlorine insecticide)
Enrofloxacin Veterinary drug (new quinolone synthetic antibacterial agent)
Oxytetracycline Veterinary drug (tetracycline antibiotical agent)
Oxolinic acid Veterinary drug (synthetic antibacterial agent)
Peracetic acid formulation Additive (antimicrobial)
Carbaryl Agricultural chemical (carbamate insecticide)
Kudoa septempunctata Kind of parasite that causes food poisoning. (Myxosporidia)
Coumaphos Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous insecticide)
Disodium glycyrrhizate Additive (sweetener)
Glyphosate Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous herbicide)
Ferrous gluconate Additive (color stabilizer)
Chloramphenicol Veterinary drug (chloramphenicol antibiotical agent) 
Chlorpyrifos Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous insecticide)
Chlorfenapyr Agricultural chemical (pesticides containing pyrrole ring)
Diarrhetic shellfish toxin Shellfish toxin (mainly refers to toxins produced by a harmful plankton accumulated in clams, toxic clams cause diarrhetic poisoning)
Saccharin Additive (sweetener)
Salmonella spp. Pathogenic microorganism (A bacterium that is ubiquitous in the intestines of animals as well as in nature, such as rivers, sewage and lakes. It contaminates meat, mostly poultry and eggs, and causes acute abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and vomiting.)
Iron sesquioxide Additive (coloring agent)
Cyanide Harmful or poisonous compound (cyanide-related compounds (e.g., cyanogenic glycoside) ) found in vegetables such as some varieties of beans.
Diniconazole Agricultural chemical (triazole fungicide)
Difenoconazole Agricultural chemical (triazole fungicide)
Diflubenzuron Agricultural chemical (urea insecticide)
Cyproginil Agricultural chemical (heterocyclic insecticide)
Cypermethrin Agricultural chemical (pyrethroid insecticide)
Gibberellin Agricultural chemical (growth regulator)
Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow FCF Additive (coloring agent)
Silicone resin Additive (anti-foaming agent)
Sucralose Additive (sweetener)
Sodium stearoyl lactylate Additive (emulsifier)
Streptomycin Aminoglycoside antibiotics
Sulfadiazine Veterinary drug (synthetic antibacterial agent)
Sulfadimidine Veterinary drug (synthetic antibacterial agent)
Sulfamethoxazole Veterinary drug (synthetic antibacterial agent)
Sorbic acid Additive (preservative)
Potassium sorbate Additive (preservative)
Calcium carbonate Additive (nutrient)
Thiamethoxam Agricultural chemicals (neonicotinoid insecticide)
Vibrio parahaemolyticus Pathogenic microorganism (A bacterium living in seawater  (estuaries, coastal areas, etc.)  that commonly contaminates fish and shellfish, and causes abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, fever and vomiting.)
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli  ( E.coli )  O26, O104, O157 etc. Pathogenic microorganism (A bacterium that normally lives in the intestines of animals. It contaminates foods and drinking water by way of faces and urine, and causes acute abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea together with large amounts of blood after early cold-like symptoms.)
Tetracycline antibiotic A general term for antibiotics which have constant spectrum (ex.Oxytetracycline, Chlorotetracycline, Tetracycline etc.)
Dehydroacetic acid Additive (preservative)
Tebuconazole Agricultural chemical (triazole fungicide)
Tebufenozide Agricultural chemical (benzoilhydrazide insecticide)
Sodium copper chlorophyllin Additive (coloring agent)
Triazophos Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous insecticide)
Nisin Additive (preservative)
Sulfur dioxide Additive (antioxidant agents)
Chlorine dioxide Additive (wheat flour treatment agent)
Silicon dioxide Additive (production agent)
Pactobutrazole Agricultural chemical (triazole growth regulator)
Patulin Mycotoxin (produced by the fungi such as Penicillium and Aspergillus)
Haloxyfop Agricultural chemical (herbicide)
Bifenthrin Agricultural chemical (pyrethroid insecticide)
Pyridaben Agricultural chemical (insecticide)
Pirimiphos methyl Agricultural chemical (insecticide)
Pyrimethanil Agricultural chemical (anilinopyrimidine fungicide)
Potassium pyrosulfite Additive (antioxidant agents)
Sodium pyrosulfite Additive (antioxidant agents)
Fipronil Agricultural chemical (phenylpyrazole synergist)
Fenitrothion Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous insecticide)
Fenvalerate Agricultural chemical (pyrethroid insecticide)
Fenhexamid Agricultural chemical (hydroxyanilide fungicide)
Bisphthalate Plasticizer
Furazolidone Veterinary drug (nitrofuran synthetic antibacterial agent) ; generates AOZ when metabolized
Fluquinconazole Agricultural chemical (fungicide)
Flonicamid Agricultural chemical (pyridinecarboxamide insecticide)
Sodium propionate Additive (preservative)
Propiconazole Agricultural chemical (triazole fungicide)
Propylene glycol Additive (softening agents)
Profenophos Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous insecticide)
Prometryn Agricultural chemical (triazine herbicide)
Hexaconazole Agricultural chemical (triazole fungicide)
Pencicron Agricultural chemical (urea fungicide)
Paralytic shellfish poison Shellfish poison (mainly refers to toxins produced by a harmful plankton accumulated in clams, toxic clams cause paralytic poisoning)
Malachite green Veterinary drug (triphenylmethane synthetic antibacterial agent)
Marathion Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous insecticide)
Metalaxyl Agricultural chemical (anilide fungicide)
Methylene blue Veterinary drug (insecticide)
Mefenoxam Agricultural chemical (anilide fungicide)
Listeria monocytogenes Pathogenic microorganism (A normal flora in the natural environment that contaminates daily products and processed meat products, and causes influenza-like symptoms including tiredness and fever)
Liquid paraffin Additive (production agent)
Calcium phosphate Additive (nutrient)
Leucomalachite green Metabolite of malachite green
2,4-D Agricultural chemical (phenoxy acid herbicide)
4-Chlorophenoxyacetic acid Agricultural chemical (growth regulator)
BHA (butylatedhydroxyanisole) Additive (antioxidant agent)
BHT (butylhydroxytoluene) Additive (antioxidant agent)
BSE (bovin spongiform encephalopathy) An indolent malignant central neurological disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain tissues and symptoms including astasia.
EPN Agricultural chemical (organophosphorous insecticide)
L-cysteine hydrochloride Additive (nutrient)
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