A team of experts from Japan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Food Safety Commission returned to Tokyo with a better understanding of the U.S. biotechnology regulatory system, reports Tommy Hamamoto, U.S. Grains Council director in Japan.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Japanese regulators generally make good decisions based on sound science,\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd said Hamamoto. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Council mission to the United States helped this group make the connection between regulatory decisions and the realities of commercial seed and grain production. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The meetings and farm visits also provided a clear idea of the benefits of biotech corn and of the U.S. industry\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s compliance with regulations, including refuge requirements.\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd<\/p>\n
Hamamoto said it was helpful to meet with seed industry representatives present to reinforce the seed industry\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s willingness to meet product stewardship requirements and comply with U.S. corn grower-Japanese industry agreements on launching new products once they are approved.<\/p>\n
Team members met with U.S. regulators at the Food and Drug Administration\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and at USDA\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and visited CropLife International for briefings on global plant biotechnology and environmental risk assessment.<\/p>\n
They then traveled to Texas and Louisiana for meetings with Frito-Lay, farm visits, and a tour of the Zen-Noh export terminal.<\/p>\n
Group members appreciated the opportunity to learn about the U.S. government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s biotechnology regulatory framework and U.S. corn production, according to Hamamoto, who cited especially the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153friendly and open attitude\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd of the farmers they met.<\/p>\n
The group also heard from FDA\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Center for Veterinary Medicine about U.S. government policy on transgenic animals. Hamamoto said the briefing is expected to contribute to future harmonization of policies between the U.S. and Japan.<\/p>\n
Four of the six team members currently sit on the Food Safety Commission panel that reviews biotechnology products.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A team of experts from Japan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Food Safety Commission returned to Tokyo with a better understanding of the U.S. biotechnology regulatory system, reports Tommy Hamamoto, U.S. Grains Council director in Japan. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Japanese regulators generally make good decisions based on sound science,\u00e2\u20ac\ufffd said Hamamoto. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Council mission to the United States helped this group make the … <\/p>\n