JAPAN TESTING OF LOBSTER IMPORTS

UNCLAS TOKYO 002187 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USTR FOR WCUTLER PASS TO USDA/FAS CBEAN PASS TO DOC FOR NOAA/F/SF HELM AND HANSEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD JA SUBJECT: JAPAN TESTING OF LOBSTER IMPORTS REF: TOKYO 2105 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: This message updates developments concerning GOJ handling of imports of lobster from the U.S. and Canada, in light of FDA warnings about Atlantic red tide conditions and risks of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). To date, test results on all U.S. shipments have been negative, and shipments have been released for sale. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Several shipments of live lobster have arrived in Japan since the July 31 notification by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and each has been referred for testing for PSP toxins. To date, no U.S. shipments have tested positive and all were allowed to enter the country for sale. Three Canadian shipments have tested above the 4 MU/g (mouse units per gram) threshold, although some other Canadian shipments tested negative. Importers of those shipments were given options reported reftel, but shipments were not permitted to enter intact. ¶3. (SBU) An MHLW official has advised it is possible to import lobster tails and claws after removing contaminated parts in a bonded facility on the condition that 1) the bonded facility to perform this processing must be licensed for seafood sales business under the Food Sanitation Law, 2) the importer consult with the quarantine station prior to the processing, and 3) the importer submit a processing plan to the quarantine station and receive permission to perform such processing. ¶4. (SBU) Given the positive test results on some Canadian shipments, lobsters from Canada have been elevated by MHLW into a "mandatory test" category, while U.S. shipments are still "voluntary test". The main difference in these categories appears to be mandatory seems to involve GOJ testing, while voluntary testing is generally being done by third-party labs. Shipments have also typically been held in bonded facilities until test results are returned. However, at least ONE shipment was released to an importer's warehouse with the instruction not to release it until negative test results were received. Testing costs are reportedly about $150 per shipment. ¶5. (SBU) Importers have asked about the possibility voluntary testing might be done at labs in the U.S. prior to shipment, but it is unclear precisely what MHLW will require in order to accept certification of such a test result. The MHLW has provisionally said it would need to examine the sampling procedure, test method, and testing laboratory, and it might ask for some form of government authentication. Embassy expects the first shipment, accompanied by a certificate from a U.S. lab, to arrive in Japan very shortly and should soon have some report on its acceptance. ¶6. (SBU) This is some discussion of the FDA advisory in Japanese on the Internet as well as in industry media, which may eventually be picked up by mainstream media and the public. Japanese importers are reportedly notifying their dealers and customers of the advisory on a precautionary basis. The concern is that advisories may not be enough, given that Japanese consumers typically do eat the affected portions of the lobster (tomalley),while U.S. consumers generally do not. There are reports that some importers may refrain from importing until environmental conditions and the PSP risk have improved. SCHIEFFER