 
Consumer Affairs Agency  
 
Overview of proposed Partial Revision to the Food Labelling Standards  
     
1. The subject of the revisions  
The Food Labelling Standards (Ordinance  of the Cabinet Office No.10 of 
2015)  is subject to revisions.  
 
2. Products covered  
genetically modified (GM) canola, walnuts  
 
(1) Labelling  for genetically modified (GM) products  
“Specific GM products ” is one of the labelling system for genetically 
modified products. They are defined as genetically modified farm 
products with specific natures that differ from same farm products 
produced with conventional breeding techniques in content, nutrition etc . 
in the Food Labelling Standards . The farm products subject to “specific 
GM products ” shall be labelled as such.  
 
The safety assessment by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare over 
GM canola which is genetically modified to produce  Docosahexaenoic and 
Eicosapentaenoic acid is expected to be completed. After that, the food 
products derived from that GM canola  produc ing Docosahexaenoic and 
Eicosapentaenoic acid will be allowed to be distribute d in Japan.  
  
Therefore, that GM canola  produc ing Docosahexaenoic and 
Eicosapentaenoic acid  shall be  added to “specific GM products ”. 
   
(2) Allergen  labelling  
Among the  food ingredients that are known to cause food allergies , those 
with high number of patients, seriousness  and so on are selected as  “specified ingredients ”. For the following seven items , labelling  is 
mandatory . 
 shrimp s 
 crabs 
 wheat  
 buckwheat  
 eggs 
 milk 
 peanut s 
 
In addition  to them , following twenty -one items are defined as 
“equivalent to specified ingredients ” in Japan. If food contains them, 
labelling as such is recommended.  
 almond s 
 abalone s 
 squid s 
 salmon roe  
 orange  
 cashew nut s 
 kiwi fruit s 
 beef 
 walnut s 
 sesame s 
 salmon s 
 mackerel s 
 soybean s 
 chicken  
 banana s 
 pork 
 matsutake mushroom s 
 peaches  
 wild yam s  apple s 
 gelatin  
 
Currently, walnut s are defined as “equivalent to specified ingredients ”. 
However , based on the nationwide investigation for health damage 
caused  by acute food allergies and other data , new policy  is decided  that 
food containing walnuts shall have the mandatory labelling  need.  
 
Therefore, the Food Labelling Standards will be partially amended to add 
walnuts to “specified ingredients ”. 