Number 59
December 3, 1993
A weekly update of news from the Japanese
Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries
Public Relations Office,Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries
Kasumigaseki 1-2-1,Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 100
Tel:81-3-3591-2874 Fax:81-3-3592-7697
Editor.Taiitsu Igarashi
MAFF Minister Hoping for Favorable Arbitration by GATT Chief
At a press conference on November 26, Eijiro Hata, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, expressed his hope that the director-general of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the chairman of the market access group, as moderators in the multilateral consultations of the GATT Uruguay Round, would fully take into account Japan's original standpoint, since less than three weeks remain before conclusion of the negotiations. In other words, Hata stated, any action taken toward a successful conclusion of the round should accommodate Japan's long-standing position, a stance that is supported by three Diet resolutions and a memorandum from the eight coalition parties.
In response to a question concerning the Japanese reaction to a rumored revision of the draft final agreement by the moderators, Hata said he did not want to comment in advance on either the content or the timing of such a package.
Answering a question about the Japanese position on starch and dairy products - which, like rice, are still subject to import restrictions - Hata explained that Japan's main concerns were not related to specific products but rather to the existence of a rule of tariffication that allows some exceptions.
Contact: Public Relations Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)
Telephone: (03) 3591-2874 (Mr. Igarashi)
Notice of Drafting Activities on Revisions of Standards for Animal
Biological Products
MAFF wishes to announce that drafting activities will begin in December 1993 on an addition to the standards for animal biological products:
- Canine parvovirus infection inactivated vaccine
- Canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, canine parvovirus infection - mixed vaccine
- Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease, bovine parainfluenza - mixed live vaccine
- Feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calici virus infection, feline panleukopenia - mixed vaccine
- Swine transmissible gastroenteritis live vaccine (for piglets)
If you have any comments or questions related to these activities, please contact MAFF before the December 27, 1993, deadline at the following address.
Office of Veterinary Drug Administration,
Animal Health Division, Livestock Bureau,
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
2-1, Kasumigaseki 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan
Tel: (03) 3502-8111 (ext. 4117)
Women Expected to Play Greater Role in Japanese Agriculture
On November 29 and 30, MAFF held a meeting to review the current participation of women in agriculture and to seek measures to encourage more women to take employment in the sector. The meeting welcomed one woman from each Japanese prefecture who is already engaged in farming, as well as representatives from prefectural and municipal governments who are in charge of programs that promote the activity of women in rural areas.
The first morning of the meeting was devoted to a lecture from Mrs. Tomoko Harada, a woman from Hokkaido who single-handedly started a sheep farm that has now grown into a full-fledged operation, from breeding through to marketing of finished products. The first afternoon was taken up with subcommittee meetings aimed at finding better ways to positively involve women in agricultural production by identifying the obstacles to be overcome in that direction.
On the second day, a plenary session was held that addressed the ways in which women expect MAFF to help strengthen the commitment and ties of women to agriculture. The meeting concluded with an enthusiastic call for the continued development of cooperation.
Contact: Women and Life Division, Agricultural Production Bureau
Telephone: (03) 3501-1962 (Ms. Toda)
New Plant Varieties Registered under Seeds and Seedlings Law
On November 29, 60 new plant varieties were registered under the Seeds and Seedlings Law. The new varieties included Kitayuki Buckwheat and Sanbi Rose.
Contact: Seeds and Seedlings Division, Agricultural Production Bureau
Telephone: (03) 3591-0524 (Mr. Fujibe)
STATISTICS
The following statistics are available from the Planning and Coordination Division of the Statistics and Information Department: Tel. (03) 3591-2657.
- Statistics on Milk and Dairy Products, October 1993.
- Commodity Price Indices in Rural Areas, October 1993.
- Statistics on the Marketing of Meat, October 1993.
- Statistics on the Wholesale Marketing of Eggs, October 1993.
- Statistics on the Marketing of Fishery Products in Landing Areas, October 1993.
- General 10-Day Statistical Report on the Marketing of Vegetables and Fruits, 2nd Part,
November 1993.
Notes:
- All materials are in Japanese unless otherwise noted.
- The contacts may not be able to respond to inquiries in any language except Japanese.