Competition and commercial losses caused by the unauthorized export and production of popular and high-quality agricultural products produced only in Japan has become a national problem for Japan.
To address this existing problem, the Japanese Government amended the Plant Varieties Seeds and Seedlings Protection Law, prohibiting the unauthorized export of these valuable crops.
Known for its bright emerald green large fruits, Shine Muscat grapes are a very popular fruit with their high sugar content. Bunch of Shine Muscat grapes, which are often used for gifts, sell for tens of thousands of yen (hundreds of US dollars). This variety was developed in 2006 as a result of long-term studies by the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Province.
According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, it has been determined that Shine Muscat grapes, which are important for Japan, have been widely grown and sold in China since 2017 under the names "Sunlight Rose" and "Incense Jade".
In addition, it has been confirmed that these grapes are grown and sold in South Korea, outside of China. The Ministry Official on this issue expressed his sadness and concern; “Because of these production and sales in China and South Korea, the profits that Japanese manufacturers should have made will be lost,” he said.
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Those who develop new fruit and vegetable varieties in Japan are given “grower rights” for 20 to 30 years. However, since there is no sanction provision in case the seeds and seedlings are taken abroad, the transportation of seeds and seedlings abroad is left unsupervised.
In the research conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in July 2020, it was determined that a total of 36 different varieties, 10 strawberry and 4 grape varieties developed by the Japanese, were sold on the websites in China and South Korea.
The government revised and re-enacted the Plant Varieties Conservation and Seed Act to prevent the illegal introduction of registered varieties. With this new regulation, the production and sales of people or companies that grow registered agricultural products without permission or transport the seeds or seedlings of these products to overseas countries without permission will be suspended.