Matrix Classification:



Country: Japan
Environmental Objective(s): Organic, Other Sustainable Resource Practices, Soil Quality,
Reduce Water Pollution
Type(s) of Measure: Payments Based On Fixed Assets, Technical Assistance/ Extension,
Education
ESTABLISHMENT AND EXTENTION OF
PRACTICES
THAT
FACILITATE
THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Policy
Agency
AGRICULTURAL
SUSTAINABLE
Law for Promoting the Introduction of Sustainable Agricultural
Production Practices
To ensure that agricultural production becomes more sustainable and
harmonised with the environment through the promotion of
“sustainable farming practices”, with an emphasis on improving soil
quality, including the application of composts, and the reduction of the
use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Farmers submit plans for the introduction of sustainable farming
practices to prefectural governors. Farmers whose plans are approved
by prefectural governors are entitled to loans from the Agricultural
Improvement Fund on a concessionary basis and tax relief based on the
infrastructure improvements to promote more sustainable farming
practices, as featured in each plan. The supported infrastructural
improvements include the construction of facilities – e.g.
compost-storage facilities; and the acquirement of machinery – e.g.
compost spreaders.
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective
Delivery Mechanism
This scheme also features a range of promotional activities intended to
promote sustainable farming, including:



technical assistance projects, including the demonstration of
sustainable farming practices;
contests on sustainable farming practices to highlight local
progressive approaches; and
other public relations activities, e.g. the distribution of leaflets.
Targets
When Applied
Since 1999
Coverage/Eligibility
Nationwide
Farmers in general (excluding those specialised in livestock production)
Voluntary measure
6,314 million yen (2002 budget for the cost of the Resource-Recycling
Agriculture Promotion Project, which is composed of various measures
including those described above, whose budgetary shares are not
predetermined.)
15,798 farmers have had their plan for the adoption of sustainable
farming practices approved by respective prefectural governors: (as of
the end of September, 2002)
Costs
Participation/Results
How
Programme
Monitored/Evaluated
Source/Further
Information
is
http://www.maff.go.jp/soshiki/nousan/nousan/kanpo/jizoku_hou3.htm
Matrix Classification:



Country: Japan
Environmental Objective(s):Organic
Type(s) of Measure: Labelling/Standards/Certification
LABELLING STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR
ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Policy
Agency
Law Concerning the Standardisation and Proper Labelling of
Agricultural and Forestry Products
Promote organic agriculture by providing precise information to
consumers on its production method, through the establishment of
labelling standards and certification system for organic agricultural
products.
1. Government provides national standard for organic agricultural
products.
2. Accredited certification organisation certify farmers who are able to
produce organic agricultural products in compliance with national
standards.
3. Only certified farmers are allowed to put JAS marks on their
products and label them as “organic”.
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective
Delivery Mechanism
Targets
When Applied
Since April 2001
Coverage/Eligibility
Nationwide
Agricultural production (other than livestock production)
Compulsory
Costs
Participation/Results
How
Programme
Monitored/Evaluated
Source/Further
Information
is
- Status survey of food labelling
- Number of certified farmers calculated using reports of accredited
certification organisations
- Quantity of organic agricultural products from certified farmers
calculated using reports of accredited certification organisations
http://www.maff.go.jp/soshiki/syokuhin/hinshitu/organic/eng_yuki_top.h
tm
Matrix Classification:



Country: Japan
Environmental Objective(s): Other Sustainable Resource Practices
Type(s) of Measure: Labelling/Standards/Certification
GUIDELINES
FOR
LABELLING
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Policy
Agency
SPECIALLY-GROWN
Guidelines for Labelling Specially-Grown Agricultural Products
(non-binding voluntary guidelines)
To promote agriculture with low or no input of agricultural chemicals or
chemical fertilisers (products defined as specially-grown agricultural
products in the Guidelines) by providing consumers with precise
information on production methods, through promoting the adoption of
labelling guidelines.
1.
Government provides guidelines for labelling specially-grown
agricultural products.
2. Farmers, while conducting agricultural production according to the
Guidelines, appoint a person to verify that their farming practices
comply with the Guidelines.
3. Farmers label their products, for example, as “agricultural products
with reduced pesticide use” according to the Guidelines, along with the
title of the Guidelines and the name, address and telephone number of
the farmer, the person responsible for verification (and the importer, in
the case of an imported product).
Relevant Legislation
Overall Objective
Delivery Mechanism
Targets
When Applied
Since 1994
Coverage/Eligibility
Nationwide
Agricultural production (other than livestock production)
Voluntary measure
Costs
Participation/Results
How
Programme
Monitored/Evaluated
Source/Further
Information
is
- Status survey of food labelling
Matrix Classification:



Country: Japan
Environmental Objective(s): Reduce Air Pollution
Type(s) of Measure: Regulatory Requirements
Policy
CONTROL OF OFFENSIVE ODOURS
Agency
Ministry of the Environment
Relevant Legislation
Offensive Odour Control Law
Overall Objective
Targets
Preserving the living environment and contributing to the protection of
people's health by enforcing necessary regulatory measures and other
countermeasures to control offensive odours generated in the course of
business activities at places of business including factories.
1. Prefectural governors are obliged to identify areas in which emission
or leakage of specified offensive odour substances (including those
emitted from livestock businesses such as ammonia, hydrogen
sulphide and trimethylamine) is regulated (regulation area) and to set
regulatory standards for the atmospheric concentration of those
substances at the border of a site of place of business.
2. In case the regulatory standards are not complied with at a place of
business and the living environment of neighbourhoods is disrupted,
prefectural governors may order the owner of the business to make
necessary improvements.
3. The owner of the business who violates the order may be sentenced
to imprisonment for a maximum period of one year or a fine to a
maximum of one million yen.
Regulatory standards to be set by prefectural governors
When Applied
Since 1972
Coverage/Eligibility
Nation-wide
(As far as the agricultural sector is concerned) livestock production
Compulsory measure
Delivery Mechanism
Costs
Regulation areas are established in 1769 out of 3223 municipalities
Participation/Results
How
Programme
Monitored/Evaluated
Source/Further
Information
is
nationwide (54.9%) as of 2001.
Annual records of complaints about offensive odours,
enforced
regulations, administrative guidance, recommendations and orders are
reported to the Minister of the Environment by prefectural governors.
http://www.env.go.jp/en/lar/olaw/index.html
http://www.env.go.jp/en/lar/regulation/odor.html
Matrix Classification:



Country: Japan
Environmental Objective(s):Reduce Water Pollution
Type(s) of Measure: Regulatory Requirements
Policy
CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION
Agency
Ministry of the Environment
Relevant Legislation
Water Pollution Control Law, Special Measures Law for Water Quality
Conservation in Lakes, Special Measures Law for Seto Inland Sea
Environmental Conservation
To prevent the pollution of public water areas and groundwater by
regulating discharges and the percolation of polluted water from places
of business, including factories.
1. Government to set regulatory standards for the concentration of
harmful substances (including nitrates, nitrites and ammonia) and the
levels of other types of pollution (including BOD, COD, total nitrogen
and total phosphorus), which is applicable to effluents from specified
facilities (including large-scale pig and cattle facilities, and horse
stables).
2. In regions related to water pollution, prefectural governors set
upper limits of discharges of pollutants for each specified facility.
3. If regulatory standards are not complied with by a specified
facility, prefectural governors may order the owner of the facility to
make the necessary improvements.
4.
Any person who violates the order shall be sentenced to
imprisonment for a maximum period of one year or a fine to a
maximum of five hundred thousand yen.
5. Further tighter regulations are in place in areas relating to the
pollution of lakes designated by government ordinance and Seto
Inland Sea.
1. Regulatory standards for the concentration of harmful substances and the
levels of other types of pollution (Only those with relevance to the
agricultural sector are listed here.)
- Sum of the ammonium-nitrogen multiplied by 0.4, nitrite-nitrogen
and nitrate-nitrogen: 100ppm (for livestock production, tentatively
1500ppm (until June 2004))
- BOD (applicable only to discharges to public water areas other than
coastal water body and lakes): 160ppm (daily average: 120ppm)
- COD (applicable only to discharges to coastal water bodies and lakes):
160ppm (daily average: 120ppm)
The following standards are applicable only to discharges to designated
coastal water bodies and lakes, and rivers flowing into them.
- Total nitrogen: 120ppm (daily average: 160ppm) (for discharges
from livestock production to designated coastal water bodies and
rivers flowing into them, tentatively 260ppm (daily average:
200ppm) until September 2003)
- Total phosphorus: 16ppm (daily average: 8ppm) (for discharges from
livestock production to designated coastal water bodies and rivers
flowing into them, tentatively 50ppm (daily average: 40ppm) until
September 2003)
2. Upper limits of discharges of pollutants for the conservation of
Specified Water Areas are set by prefectural governors.
Since 1970
Overall Objective
Delivery Mechanism
Targets
When Applied
Nationwide
(As far as the agricultural sector is concerned) livestock production
Compulsory measure
Coverage/Eligibility
Costs
Participation/Results
How
Programme
Monitored/Evaluated
Source/Further
Information
is
(As of 2000)
- 34964 out of 298245 specified facilities are that of livestock
production.
- As a result of on-site inspection at 63016 facilities, 8850 received
administrative guidance and 47 received administrative orders.
- Measurement and record of pollution levels of effluents are required at
specified facilities.
- On-site inspection of specified facilities by the Ministry of the Environment
and prefectural offices.
- Full-time monitoring of water quality of public water areas and
groundwater by prefectural offices.
http://www.env.go.jp/en/lar/wlaw/index.html
http://www.env.go.jp/en/pol/wemj/index.html
Matrix Classification:



Country: Japan
Environmental Objective(s):Soil Quality
Type(s) of Measure: Regulatory Requirements
Policy
PREVENTION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND SOIL POLLUTION
Agency
Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries
Agricultural Land Soil Pollution Prevention Law
Relevant Legislation
To prevent adverse effects on human health by polluted agricultural
products and the inhibition of the growth of agricultural crops, by taking
necessary measures for the prevention and elimination of agricultural
land soil pollution caused by harmful substances and the rationalisation
of polluted agricultural land usage.
1. Prefectural governors designate agricultural land soil pollution
policy areas, in which soil is polluted by cadmium, copper or arsenic to
such an extent that it is highly likely that agricultural crops that may
affect human health are produced or that the growth of agricultural
crops is significantly inhibited.
2. Prefectural governors establish agricultural land soil pollution
countermeasures plans (including basic principles for the use of
agricultural land soils and projects for the prevention, elimination and
monitoring of pollution), with the approval of the Minister of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of the
Environment.
3.
Prefectural governors may, where deemed necessary for the
prevention of agricultural land soil pollution, set stricter standards for
effluents and smoke than relevant national standards.
Overall Objective
Delivery Mechanism
Targets
When Applied
Since 1971
Coverage/Eligibility
Areas subject to the provisions of the law (agricultural land soil
pollution policy areas) are designated by prefectural governors.
This is a compulsory measure.
6,314 million yen (2002 budget for the cost of resource-recycling
agriculture promotion project, which is composed of various measures
including those described above, whose budgetary shares are not
predetermined.))
- 6266ha out of 7166ha (areas where pollution has been detected) have
been designated as agricultural land soil pollution policy areas.
- Agricultural land soil pollution countermeasures plans have been
established for 6181ha out of 6266ha of land.
- As a result of countermeasure projects, designation was canceled for
areas amounting to 4455ha (portion of the 6266ha).
Prefectural governors to monitor the levels of agricultural land soil
pollution on a steady basis and report the results to the Minister of the
Environment.
Costs
Participation/Results
How
Programme
Monitored/Evaluated
Source/Further
Information
is
http://www.env.go.jp/en/lar/aglaw/law.pdf
Matrix Classification:



Country: Japan
Environmental Objective(s):Generic/Broad Spectrum
Type(s) of Measure: Regulatory Requirements
Agency
IMPLEMENTATION
OF
ASSESSMENTS
Ministry of the Environment
Relevant Legislation
Environmental Impact Assessment Law
Overall Objective
To ensure that proper consideration is given to environmental
conservation with regard to large-scale development projects, by
conducting prior surveys on the environmental impacts of such projects
and granting permissions based on their results.
Projects identified by government ordinance (including the construction
of large-scale dams for agricultural purposes) require environmental
impact assessment according to the provisions of the law.
Policy
Delivery Mechanism
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
Targets
When Applied
Since1999
Coverage/Eligibility
Nationwide
Compulsory measure
Costs
Environmental impact statements have been prepared according to the
law for 49 projects since the enforcement of the law. (None of them are
related to the agricultural sector.)
Participation/Results
How
Programme
Monitored/Evaluated
Source/Further
Information
is
http://www.env.go.jp/en/lar/assess/index.html
Matrix Classification:



Country: Japan
Environmental Objective(s): Generic/Broad Spectrum
Type(s) of Measure: Research
Policy
AGRI-ENVIRONMETAL RESEARCH
Agency
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Relevant Legislation
To enhance and accelerate ecological and environmental research in
order to maintain and improve the natural cyclical function of
agriculture (the function of agriculture in stimulating and being
strongly influenced by the biological and physical cycle in nature).
The major research areas are:
1. the structures and functions of ecosystems relating to
agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
2. the interrelationship between global environmental changes and
ecosystems relating to agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
3. the fundamental research in ecological and environmental sciences.
Contracting out researches and surveys / Subsidies for operating
expenses of independent administrative institutions.
Overall Objective
Delivery Mechanism
Targets
Research programmes have been conducted under the current system
since 2001.
Independent administrative institutions, prefectural governments,
universities and private institutes.
Voluntary measure
5,808 million yen (2001 budget)
When Applied
Coverage/Eligibility
Costs
Participation/Results
How
Programme
Monitored/Evaluated
Source/Further
Information
is
http://www.s.affrc.go.jp/index-e.html