FOOD SAFETY COMMISSION OF JAPAN Food Safety Commission of Japan 1 Who We Are 1All foods are not necessarily safe, despite the human have not experienced before. Anisakiasis, parasitic inclination to believe they are. Plants often contain infection, is caused by the consumption of raw sea- different alkaloids such as solanine, a well-known food. Apparently, recent incidence of this foodborne toxic substance contained in the green tubers or disease is a result from people’s new preference for buds of potatoes. Inappropriate consumption of eating food raw, which were not eaten raw before. these plants causes plant poisoning due to these al- FSCJ also conducts risk assessment of such kind. kaloids. Cassava, an important crop in the tropics, is another example of a toxic plant because it contains FSCJ, however, is responsible not solely for assess- a cyanogenic glycoside as a component, and is ment of food safety risks; it is also responsible for highly hazardous if someone eats it without pretreat- “risk communication” through which the information ment. Human beings have been contriving to make on risk assessments is to be provided correctly in an these toxic crops edible for survival throughout our easy-to-understand manner. Through risk communi- long history. Our long fight against pathogenic bac- cation, FSCJ should provide people with the knowl- teria that cause serious foodborne diseases is one edge and wisdom of consuming food safely. of control for our very survival. FSCJ needs to listen to consumer’s questions and Food Safety Commission of Japan (FSCJ) is a risk opinions about food safety and about risk assess- assessment organization for science-based assess- ments through communication. Building mutual ment of food safety risks to human health. A serious understanding among stakeholders, FSCJ has to need exists for science-based assessment of the ef- make the healthy and enjoyable dietary life of the na- fects of food on human health, especially when hu- tion based on its own decisions. In addition, FSCJ is man society faces food safety issues of a new kind requested to provide the relevant information to the that are uncontrollable through prior experience. The world. It is particularly important to provide the infor- BSE crisis was one such issue. Surge of the food mation to Asian countries, because these countries trade, including both expanded volume and variety are actively involved in the food trading of our coun- of foods, along with the increased number of trad- try. Moreover, communication among risk assess- ing countries is thought to be one such new situa- ment organizations of each country, and international tion. Beside these, risk assessment was certainly bodies,collaboration or exchange of food safety in- required for establishing the common rules for use formation are necessary for establishing food safety of pesticides.The standard for use of additives has worldwide. Fortunately, been demanded to be established through risk as- FSCJ is successfully pub- sessments. Pesticides and additives are largely used lishing an on-line journal, for ensuring food productivity or ensuring food of a “Food Safety,” which was certain quality. This is the aim of genetically modified founded as the official jour- foods as well. nal commemorative for the 10th anniversary of FSCJ. Humans eat food to survive, but we also eat for sen- I believe FSCJ should pro- suous enjoyment. Because of the latter, human be- mote the transmission of ings have been trying to eat what we were not eat- information on its activities Chairperson ing before, eating things in new ways. This human to the world by means of Hiroshi SATOH approach sometimes causes food safety issues we this on-line journal. 1 Food Safety Commission of Japan Mission FSCJ implements science-based risk assessment Japan's Cabinet Office in July 2003, independently of food in an objective, neutral, and impartial man- from risk management organizations*. ner to protect the health of the people. In addition, FSCJ implements risk communication *Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) about the results of its risk assessments and scien- Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare (MHLW) tific findings on food safety. Ministry of Environment (MOE) To implement risk assessment separately from risk Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) management*, FSCJ was established as a part of Food Safety Commission Food Safety Commission comprises seven commis- Scientific Panels are reported to the Commission sioners, including four full-time commissioners. All for discussion. After being adopted by the Commis- the weekly Commission meetings are open to the sion, the report is submitted to risk managers. public. Draft risk assessment reports developed by Chairperson Hiroshi SATOH M.D., Ph.D., Prof. Emer. Tohoku Univ. Public Health Acting Chairperson Yasushi YAMAZOE Ph.D., Prof. Emer. Tohoku Univ. Drug metabolism & Pharmacology Susumu KUMAGAI Ph.D., Prof. Emer. The Univ. of Tokyo Microbiology Midori YOSHIDA D.V.M., Ph.D. (Sep.2007-Jun.2015 Toxicology National Institute of Health Sciences) Katsue ISHII Ph.D., Prof., Shukutoku Univ. Cookery Science Itsuko HORIGUCHI D.D.S., Ph.D., Associate Prof., Nagasaki Univ. Health Risk Communication Masatsune MURATA Ph.D., Prof., Ochanomizu Univ. Food Chemistry Organizational structure of FSCJ Food Safety Commission Secretariat Scientific Panels Planning Committee Food Safety Commission of Japan 2 Scientific Panels Scientific Panels, which consist of Expert Commit- institutes, or other organizations. tees and Working Groups, carry out risk assess- In addition to the Scientific Panels above, FSCJ ments on specific hazards. Nearly 2,000 Risk As- has Expert Committee on Planning which commits sessments are completed as of 31st March, 2015. to activities such as developing strategic plans of Scientific Panels are made up of more than 200 risk assessment, emergency responses, and risk experts who belong to universities, public research communication. Scientific Panels Food Additives Prions Reproductive and Developmental Tox- Pesticides Natural Toxins and Mycotoxins icity of Bisphenol A Veterinary Medicinal Products Genetically Modified Foods Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria Apparatuses, Containers and Packages Novel Foods* Lead Contaminants in Foods Feeds and Fertilizers Acrylamide Microorganisms and Viruses Food Additives as Nutrients Health Foods * Food for specified health uses provided in The Health Promotion Law Secretariat The Secretariat supports risk assessment work of conducting risk communication. Approximately 60 the Commission and Expert Committees by organ- officials, 30 technical advisers, and 20 assistants izing scientific findings/evidence used for risk as- belong to Secretariat. sessment, communicating with risk managers, and General Affairs Div. Risk assessment of food additives, First Risk pesticides, Assessment Div. contaminants in foods Director General Assessment Development of new Methodology risk assessment Development Office methods* Deputy Second Risk Director Assessment Div. Risk assessment of veterinary medicinal General products, microorganism,feed & fertilizers, prions, natural toxins,novel food and genetically modifield foods Information, Publication and Recommendation gathering information and Public Relations Div. on food safety *in silico method, probabilistic risk assessment, Director for Risk communication risk assessment method of Director for Information Analysis emerging hazards etc. 3 Food Safety Commission of Japan What We Do 2Risk Assessment FSCJ assesses risks to human health posed by requests from risk managers. FSCJ also carries out microorganisms, chemicals, and others contained risk assessment on its own initiative when it finds in food, on the basis of the scientific evidence. Its it necessary to do so. It is called "self-tasking" risk assessment is mainly conducted in response to assessment. Revision of Countermeasures Arsenic in foods Against BSE in Japan A large amount of organic arsenic compounds such FSCJ concluded that BSE risk to human health is as arsenobetaine and arsenosugar are contained in negligible even if the age limit for BSE testing at algae, fish and shellfish that Japanese are traditionally slaughterhouses is lifted to more than 48 months, as a eating a lot. At the present, there is no data to suggest result of its assessment. (May 2013) any adverse health effects associated with intake of (This assessment was requested by MHLW.) arsenic through normal dietary life. (December 2013) (This assessment was conducted as self-tasking as- sessment.) Okadaic Acid Group Toxins Advantame in Bivalve Molluscs FSCJ conducted a risk assessment of advantame, a Okadaic acid group toxins in bivalve molluscs cause food additive used as a sweetener, whose sweetness diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. Since the poisoning is is said to be approximately 14,000 to 48,000 times due to acute effects of the toxins, FSCJ established higher than that of sugar. FSCJ established an ac- an acute reference dose (ARfD) but not a tolerable ceptable daily intake (ADI) of advantame as a result of daily intake (TDI). (July 2014) the assessment. (July 2013) (This assessment was requested by MHLW.) (This assessment was requested by MHLW.) Research and Survey Program FSCJ has work programs for researches and surveys, where FSCJ collects data and information required for risk assessment. Research grant Researches which provide information required for establishment of risk assessment guidelines/guidances are selected, e.g. a study