Japan’s health ministry said today (1 August) that it has found three cases of unauthorised genetically modified rice being imported in Chinese processed foods.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


Japan stepped up testing for the Bt-63 variety of GM rice in Chinese food imports after the EU detected it in rice imported from China earlier this year.


The health agency said in a statement that in May tests on a shipment of rice noodles detected the presence of Bt-63, while in April two separate cargos of sticky rice flower were found to contain the GMO.


Under Japanese policy, these shipments are either destroyed or returned to the country of origin.


Australia and New Zealand’s food safety authority announced yesterday that it too had detected unauthorised imports of the rice and has taken steps to prevent its sale.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact