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Japan, with its strong hygiene culture and crisis-driven regulatory reforms, serves as a global reference point in food safety governance.
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In Japan, the approach to food safety is a comprehensive system integrating rigorous regulatory standards, scientific risk assessments, and proactive public health initiatives, coupled with a commitment to adapting food safety measures in tandem with global trends and challenges. It is anchored in a longstanding societal emphasis on hygiene, consumer protection, and trust in governance. The development of this system has been particularly responsive to food-related crises, leading to structural reforms placing science, transparency, and accountability at the heart of regulatory practice. The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2022 by Economist Impact ranked the country sixth globally out of 113 countries, with an overall score of 79.5 out of 100. The exalted ranking reflects Japan's strong performance across the GFSI's four key pillars—affordability, availability, quality and safety, as well as sustainability and adaptation.
Japan also emphasises public engagement and transparency. While consumers can access food safety information via official websites and labelling schemes, schools supplement this strategy by promoting ‘shokuiku’ (food education), instilling hygiene and nutrition awareness from a young age.
Japan’s food safety system originates from its post-World War II food security policies. However, it was only until the 1990s and early 2000s—following several high-profile food scandals—that the government decided to implement sweeping reforms. Notable among these was the 2001 outbreak of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (mad cow disease), which exposed gaps in food inspection and crisis communication. The outbreak prompted the establishment of the Food Safety Basic Law (2003), which fundamentally restructured the country’s food safety governance.
As of 2025, Japan operates on a ‘farm-to-table’ approach, encompassing production, processing, distribution, and consumption. Laws such as the Food Sanitation Act, the Standardisation and Proper Labelling of Agricultural and Forestry Products Act, and the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standards) Act have ensured food safety through labelling, inspections, and traceability mechanisms. Additionally, the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems, mandated in 2021, reinforce a preventive approach to foodborne risks across the food industry.
Furthermore, Japan also emphasises public engagement and transparency. While consumers can access food safety information via official websites and labelling schemes, schools supplement this strategy by promoting ‘shokuiku’ (food education), instilling hygiene and nutrition awareness from a young age. Over time, Japan’s food safety framework has adapted to new challenges, including globalisation, climate change, and radiation fears following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. In the aftermath of the incident, the Japanese government immediately established provisional regulatory values for radioactive substances in food and drink to prevent health hazards. Japan also implemented a comprehensive monitoring system to ensure compliance and rebuild public trust. Between March 2011 and March 2021, over 320,000 food samples from the Fukushima Prefecture were tested for radioactive materials. While initial tests detected radio-caesium in many samples, subsequent years showed a significant decline, with only some wild game meat, plants, and wild mushrooms occasionally exceeding the revised standard value of 100 becquerel per kilogram. These measures have been effective in restoring consumer confidence. Sales of Fukushima's agricultural products, such as rice, have seen a resurgence, pushing several countries to lift import restrictions on Japanese food products. The rigorous testing and transparent communication have ensured food safety and steered the economic recovery of the affected regions.
As of April 2025, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has implemented a comprehensive food safety and monitoring plan to enhance the safety of imported foods. This includes import inspections, focusing on high-risk categories, including seafood, processed foods, and agricultural products with agrochemical residues, aflatoxins, and undeclared additives being the key areas of concern. Violations exceeding 5 percent could result in import bans, underscoring the importance of compliance. Tokyo is also transitioning to a positive list system for food contact materials (FCMs)—particularly synthetic resins. Starting June 2025, only substances included in the approved list can be used in manufacturing FCMs, such as packaging, ensuring stricter control over materials that come into contact with food.
Japan has also implemented self-inspection and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines for businesses producing tablets, capsules, and liquids in its health foods sector. The framework, effective from January 2024, focuses on ensuring the quality and safety of health food products through standardised manufacturing processes. The Strategic Initiative for a Healthy and Sustainable Food Environment (HSFE), launched by the MHLW, addresses nutritional issues, including excessive salt intake and nutritional disparities, by promoting a food environment that supports healthy eating habits across all generations.
Japan's food safety framework significantly contributes to its development partnership agenda, particularly through Official Development Assistance (ODA) and technical cooperation initiatives. By exporting its robust food safety standards and practices, Japan supports capacity building, trade facilitation, and public health improvements in the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) countries through a multifaceted approach involving technical cooperation and policy harmonisation.. This collaboration is primarily facilitated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and aligns with the country's broader strategy to promote sustainable agriculture and food security.
The MAFF has funded regional projects to enhance the capacities of ASEAN countries to participate effectively in Codex and Codex Alimentarius activities. These efforts have improved the nexus of national standards with international norms, facilitating safer food trade and protecting consumer health.
A cornerstone of this initiative is the ASEAN-JICA Food Value Chain Development Project (AJFVC), launched in 2023. The project aims to strengthen food safety by promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), enhancing sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, and fostering public-private partnerships. Furthering this commitment, the first ASEAN-Japan Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry Meeting (AJMAF) in October 2023 adopted the ASEAN-Japan MIDORI Cooperation Plan, which focuses on building sustainable agriculture and food systems, emphasising the importance of food safety and security.
Capacity building constitutes another critical component of Japan's assistance. In November 2024, a study tour under the AJFVC project enabled representatives from six ASEAN countries to explore Japan's pesticide control and food safety practices alongside insights into regulatory approaches, pesticide residue analysis, and the implementation of SPS measures. Tokyo also supports harmonising food safety standards within ASEAN with international benchmarks, notably the Codex Alimentarius. The MAFF has funded regional projects to enhance the capacities of ASEAN countries to participate effectively in Codex and Codex Alimentarius activities. These efforts have improved the nexus of national standards with international norms, facilitating safer food trade and protecting consumer health.
Moreover, Japan's efforts extend to promoting digitalisation in agriculture. In October 2024, the ASEAN-Japan Symposium on Accelerating Digitalisation in Agriculture and Food Systems highlighted strategies for integrating digital tools—such as IoT devices, drones, and Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking systems—to enhance food safety and sustainability. These partnerships concretise food safety and contribute to regional stability and economic growth, aligning with Japan's vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
Japan's emphasis on food safety through its international engagements (notably through the global recognition of ‘washoku’ —a traditional Japanese cuisine) reinforces its role as a proactive and responsible global partner offering valuable and actionable lessons for international food safety governance, rooted in a scientific regulatory model and a strong institutional architecture. This cultural diplomacy complements its economic objectives, as the global appreciation of Japanese cuisine drives demand for Japanese food products, supporting the country's overall export goals. As countries grapple with the twin challenges of globalised food supply chains and rising consumer expectations, Japan’s approach stands out for its regulatory rigour, transparency, and the ability to integrate food safety into development diplomacy.
As countries grapple with the twin challenges of globalised food supply chains and rising consumer expectations, Japan’s approach stands out for its regulatory rigour, transparency, and the ability to integrate food safety into development diplomacy.
A cornerstone of Japan's approach to food safety is adopting international standards such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 22000, which harmonises HACCP principles with prerequisite programmes (PRPs) to create a unified framework for food safety. This emphasises risk management, supply chain communication, and continuous improvement, aligning with global best practices. The Japan Food Safety Management Association (JFSM) has advanced the JFS-C Standard, with its Version 3.1 released in 2024, to enhance guidelines for the food and chemical manufacturing sectors, complementing international frameworks and ensuring that local practices meet global expectations.
Japan’s move toward a positive list system for food contact materials (FCMs) is another example of its pre-emptive, high-standard regulation. Effective June 2025, only substances explicitly listed and approved under this system can be used in FCMs. This reform reflects growing international concerns about chemical migration from packaging to food and sets a benchmark for other countries to draft stricter FCM governance guidelines (Food Packaging Forum, 2024).
Furthermore, Japan's Food Safety Commission has established tolerable intake limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It has set a tolerable daily intake of 20 nanograms per kilogram of body weight for compounds such as PFOA and PFOS—two of the most widely used PFAS. These fluorinated chemicals have recently been linked to a range of health issues, including cancer and pregnancy complications.. Japan’s handling of communication related to food safety, particularly during high-risk events such as the Fukushima wastewater discharge, highlights the importance of transparency and public trust. Involving international agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and facilitating data access, Japan emphasises that effective crisis management in food safety must encompass multilateral oversight and transparent risk communication. Tokyo's experience demonstrates that food safety must be institutionalised as a national priority, embedded in international cooperation, and guided by transparent, science-driven policymaking.
Pratnashree Basu is an Associate Fellow with the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation.
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Pratnashree Basu is an Associate Fellow, Indo-Pacific at Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata, with the Strategic Studies Programme and the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy. She ...
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