Table-4 Degree of Emergency and Major Countermeasures
Degree of Emergency | Major countermeasures |
At the time of temporary or short-term supply shortage, or when the domestic supply/demand situation becomes significantly tight for a considerable period (early stage) | ○Monitoring price and supply/demand moves ○Release stock piles ○Secure imports |
When released stock piles are not sufficient to meet the national requirements | (Production) ○Urgent production increase of rice, wheat and other products ○Production conversion to products of high calorie efficiency (Price and Distribution) ○Monitoring price and supply/demand moves ○Legal actions under the two major Laws on National Life, Food Laws and other relevant legislations |
Table-5 Outline of Food Security Policies in Major Foreign Countries
| Country | Underlying Laws | Target Food Supply | Outline of Food Security Policies |
| Germany Population: 8,2130,000 Grain self-sufficiency: 128% | Stable Food Supply Law (1965) Emergency Food Law (1990) | Intake basis: 2,400lcal/day/person (at peacetime: 3,500kcal/day/person) | ◆ Implement national stockpiling (target volume: one month worth), encourage in-home stockpilng (two weeks worth) ◆ As emergency measures, necessary regulations can be issued under laws and orders relating to production, shipment, supply and rationing of agricultural products. Enacted at present is a law to control food supply by distributing rationing cards (Food Control Order: 1979) |
| Switzerland Population: 7,300,000 Grain self-sufficiency: 65% | Article 31 of the Constitution, Federal Law concerning National Economic Commodities Supply (1982) | Intake basis: 2,300lcal/day/person (at peacetime: 3,300kcal/day/person) | ◆ Implement mandatory stockpiling at business establishments (basically 6 months worth), encourage in-home stockpiling (two weeks worth) ◆ The "Food Supply Plan" , a combination of domestic production, importing and stockpiling measures, is developed for emergencies (rationing, domestic production increase by product conversion and others) |
| Sweden Population: 8,880,000 Grain self-sufficiency: 129% | Article 13 of the Constitution and Diet Resolution | Intake basis: 2,900lcal/day/person (same as at peacetime) | ◆ Implement national stockpiling (volume regarded as a military secret), encourage in-home stockpiling (national stockpiling system is planned to be abolished within 5 years after 1997) ◆ Rationing, production and diet conversion from animal foods to vegetable foods at the time of emergency |
| Finland Population: 5,150,000 Grain self-sufficiency: 126% | Supply Security Law (1992) | Intake basis: 2,800lcal/day/person (same as at peacetime) | ◆ Implement national stockpiling (one year worth of food grains, 6 months worth of feed grains), encourage home stockpiling |
| Norway Population: 4,420,000 Grain self-sufficiency: 66% | Grain Supply Law and others | Intake basis: 2,900lcal/day/person (same as at peacetime) | ◆ Implement national stockpiling, encourage home stockpiling ◆ Enlargement of agricultural land area, diversification of country of imports and others at the time of emergency |
Note: The population figure was taken from 1998 data, and the grain self-sufficiency ratio form 1997 data.