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The Action Plan also emphasises the importance of protecting infrastructure from natural disasters and nuclear accidents, and sets out several objectives to improve the viability of the agricultural sector and productivity including:
(…) • Rebuilding exports after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant accident as well as promotion abroad and introducing a system for protecting geographical indications; (...)

(…) the 2011 earthquake and tsunami severely damaged the fisheries sector and the subsequent accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plants raised concerns about food safety of fisheries' products. Total fisheries-related damage was estimated at ¥1.26 trillion and the prefectures worst affected accounted for 21% of total marine fisheries and aquaculture production in 2011.

The Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami caused extensive damage to the fishery sector in Japan causing an estimated ¥1.25 trillion in damage to 28,612 vessels, and 319 ports, and including ¥133.5 billion in damage to aquaculture facilities and products. Under the Fisheries Recovery Master Plan, the objective is to complete the recovery of fishing port facilities by end FY2015. Over 12,000 vessels had been recovered by end-FY2013 and considerable progress has been made in replacing or recovering processing and distribution and seedling production facilities. To address concerns about food safety following the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, an extensive system for monitoring radiation levels in the relevant area was introduced, backed, if necessary, by voluntary or compulsory suspension of fishing operations, sales, and distribution.

The Agency for Natural Resources and Energy and its Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy in METI are responsible for energy policy, planning, and legislation as well as regulation of the industry. The Nuclear Regulation Authority in the Ministry of the Environment is responsible for supervision of nuclear power plants. METI has the authority to issue licences to electricity utilities, and to approve power sales' tariffs for the general electricity utilities and the specified electricity utilities. It may also issue service-related orders to electricity companies, including orders:
• to the general electric utilities and specified electricity utilities to improve operations;
• to a general electric utility to supply another utility in the case of emergencies, and to provide a wheeling service;
• to determine the price and contract period for electricity from renewable sources; and
• to a utility to enter a purchase or interconnection agreement with a producer of electricity from renewable sources.

Box 3.2 Key agencies responsible for SPS measures
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Department of Food Safety, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau
Responsible for administration of food safety including specifications and standards for food, food additives, pesticide residues, animal drug residues, genetically modified foods and food containers, inspection and safety measures for food.

Ministry of the Environment
Responsible for managing risks to the environment from imports, including from invasive alien species.

Compliance with the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standards) is not necessary for imports into Japan except organic plants and organic processed foods of plant origin. The JAS Law allows third-party organizations to certify operators (e.g. manufacturers) to affix JAS marks. The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as well as Registered Certifying Bodies (RCBs) and Registered Overseas Certifying Bodies (ROCBs) are responsible for monitoring and managing JAS marks. Foreign producers or manufacturers that are certified by RCBs and ROCBs may conduct their own grading and affix the JAS marks to their products. At present, there are 28 ROCBs, 18 for organic products, and 10 for forestry products. Under the JAS Law, foreign enterprises certifying operators that produce, process, and/or distribute agricultural or forestry products in conformity with the JAS may be accredited as ROCBs.

(...) All organic plants and organic processed foods to be sold in Japan must comply with the JAS organic standards and carry the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standards) organic mark. [33]

[33] To label food as "organic", certification that the food meets certain JAS requirements is needed from a registered certifying body or a registered overseas certifying body. Only certified food is allowed to be distributed with a JAS organic mark.

Food labelling in Japan continues to be governed by the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standards) Law and the Food Sanitation Act. Under the provisions of the JAS law, mandatory labelling standards for food are currently in force. These include: cross-category quality labelling standards for processed foods, fresh foods, and genetically modified foods , and individual quality labelling standards. (...)

Under both the Food Sanitation Act and the JAS Law, genetically modified (GM) foods must be labelled as such. Presently, the list of GM products that need to be labelled comprises eight crops (soybeans, corn, rapeseed, potatoes, cottonseed, alfalfa, papaya, and sugar beet) and 33 kinds of designated processed food, mainly made of soybeans or corn; it also includes the newly added papaya and processed foods containing papaya as a main ingredient. The MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) does not permit imports of GM foods that do not meet its safety requirements.

Table 3.7 Principal legislation affecting exports
Legislation: Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
First passed: 1992
Last amended: 2005
Purpose: Provides legal basis for the Minister of the Environment to draft guidelines on conservation of endangered species, the requirement to have approval for international trade, and other measures for their protection.