The Australian distributorship for Australia’s most popular imported Japanese beer has been lost by Foster’s. The Japanese Asahi Group has appointed its own Australian subsidiary company Independent Distillers to market and distribute Asahi beer through the premium beverages division of Independent Distillers. As reported by Australian Food News in late 2011, Foster’s was taken over by South African beer giant SABMiller and subsequently also lost Australian distribution rights for another international... ...Read more »

In a response to notification of a low pathogenic influenza detection in ducks on a property in Victoria, the Japanese government announced today that it had suspended imports of Australian poultry products and egg-derived products. However, questions were being raised as to the extent of the suspension, given that there are many processed foods that can contain small amounts of egg-based ingredients. Further talks are taking place between the Australian government and the Japanese government officials... ...Read more »

Latest figures from Australia’s Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry show that the volume of beef exported to Japan during 2011 was the lowest since 2003. Japan is the largest destination of Australian beef exports. Australia sent 30,202 tonnes of beef to Japan in December 2011, taking the annual total to 342,186 tonnes. This was four per cent less than the amount exported in 2010. According to Meat & Livestock Australia, Australian beef exports have been impacted by the... ...Read more »

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, has used an address to members of the National Diet of Japan to support further agricultural trade liberalisation and to emphasise the importance of addressing agricultural protectionist reforms in Japan, by negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Japan is Australia’s largest export market for beef and dairy products and is also a key market for Australian wine. Japan is also an important trading partner for a range of Australian... ...Read more »

Japan’s government has imposed a ban on shipments of rice produced in certain parts of Fukushima after high levels of radioactive caesium were detected. The announcement was made by the Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura, who said restrictions had been imposed on the shipment of rice produced in 2011 in former Oguni-mura in Fukushima City, where radiation leaks occurred after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. Mr Fujimura said that the Japanese government had asked the Governor of Fukushima... ...Read more »

Whilst growth in the iced coffee market continues to be dominated by Asia, levels of interest elsewhere in the world appear to be growing according to figures released today by international research body, Innova Database. According to Innova, the demand for iced coffee drinks appears to be growing, not only geographically, but also beyond its original home in the foodservice sector of many countries, particularly the USA. Innova Database’s research found that Asia accounted for nearly three-quarters... ...Read more »

Australia’s bluefin tuna industry chiefs are eager to see a higher catch quota permitted for southern blue fin tuna for the 2012 and 2013 fishing seasons. The quota is to be decided on by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) which met today in Sydney, Australia, to discuss future quotas. The commission is made up of delegates from Australia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan. Southern bluefin tuna fish are found throughout the southern hemisphere mainly in waters... ...Read more »

The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan could have a “dire” impact on the country’s food and agriculture sectors, analysts at Rabobank have warned. Concerns over food safety and supply problems are likely to hit exports and lead to a rise in imports, particularly from the US, Australia and China, Rabobank said yesterday. In a report on the impact of the crisis on the food sector, Rabobank said imports of seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables are likely to grow. The analysts said... ...Read more »

In its most recent assessment of the situation in Japan, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) noted that the Japanese Government had moved to place new restrictions on certain foods sourced from areas of Japan where radiation contamination has occurred. As a precautionary measure, and consistent with approaches internationally, FSANZ said that on March 23, it asked AQIS (the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) to institute testing of some foods originating from four Japanese prefectures... ...Read more »

The US has joined a growing list of countries who have imposed restrictions on the import of Japanese food over fears of nuclear contamination. The Food and Drink Administration (FDA) has restricted the import of dairy, vegetable and fruit products into the US from the four northern prefectures of Japan affected by radiation leaks from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant. Imports from the Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma prefectures “will be detained upon entry into the United States”... ...Read more »