健康・医療About Us

In the current framework in Japan, the Food Safety Commission (FSC) in the Cabinet Office is the independent risk assessment body under the Food Safety Basic Act.
Risk management is conducted by three agencies; the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA). They have responsibilities for developing necessary measures and regulation based on risk assessment results.
All these agencies communicate with stakeholders including consumers.

Under the Food Sanitation Act and other related acts, the MHLW establishes food safety standards and other regulations for foods, food addtives and food utensils, containers/packaging  based on scientific evidence to protect the health of Japan's people.

Regional Bureaus of Health and Welfare are located in seven regions across Japan; Hkkaido, Tohoku, Kanto-shinetsu, Tokai-Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku-Shikoku, and Kyushu.

・Register and inspect facilities introducing HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) in cooperation with local governments and provide technical advice for hygienic practices based on HACCP approach.

・Inspect establishments for export

・Register private laboratories as "Registered Laboratories " which opearate food inspection business in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice(GLP) under the Food sanitation Act.

There are 32 quarantine stations located at international seaports and airports.

・Document examination of import notification

・Inpsect and monitrot imported foods and related products

・Guide importers on practical procedures and requirement for importing food

There are 47 prefectural governments, 80 municipalities with public health centres, and 23 special wards of Tokyo Metropolis.

・Inspect local restaurants, food manufacturers and distributors. Investigate the cause in case of an outbreak of food poisoning.

・Set hygiene standards based on relevant ordinances.

・Issuance of business permits for specific type of food business operators. Suspend or revoke its permits upon violation.

・Formulate inspection and guidance plan for foods distributing in domestic marketplace. Activities according to he plan are executed by public health centres.