A Taste of Wellness for Savoury and Snacks
Givaudan
Lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan are considering setting up a new food safety agency in the government by combining the divisions of the farm and health ministries currently dealing with mad cow disease, according to a story in the Kyodo Times.
The Japanese newspaper reports that following a mission to Europe the party's group for mad cow disease measures had reported to Prime Minister Junicihiro Koizumi who has since requested specific talks on establishing a new agency.
The group reported at the meeting that during its fact-finding mission to Europe in January, it found that European governments have re-organised ministries and agencies to deal with food safety, actively protecting consumers by providing information.
As a consequence the panel set up by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to study the administrative problems that led to the spread of the mad cow disease is recommending a new food safety agency.
In the last 18 months Japan has been hit by two major scandals involving its products. The Japanese consumer must be feeling vulnerable. A new food safety agency could serve to restore the consumers confidence in the Japanese food safety system.