Japan Enforces Food Supply Emergency Law Amid Soaring Prices

Japan's new food supply emergency law has taken effect, empowering the government to direct farmers to submit production plans for key food items such as rice when domestic supplies shrink and prices surge, Kyodo News reported.

Twelve essential food items — including rice, meat, soybeans, wheat, sugar, eggs, and dairy products — have been categorized as crucial under the law.

The legislation aims to address potential food shortages, as the cultivation of nutritious crops has become increasingly unstable due to climate change and the ongoing war in Ukraine — long known as the "European granary" for its vast agricultural output.

In Japan, food prices have continued to rise sharply. Government data revealed that the cost of rice surged by 80.9% in February compared to the previous year — the steepest increase since comparable data was first recorded in 1971.

The new law, which was enacted in June 2024, seeks to curb such volatility.

Twelve essential food items — including rice, meat, soybeans, wheat, sugar, eggs, and dairy products — have been categorized as crucial under the law. The government also plans to ensure a stable supply of fertilizers and pesticides for agricultural production.

If the supply of any of the designated items falls by 20% or more below the average and prices spike, authorities may order farmers and food-related businesses to prepare and submit plans to boost production, increase imports, or enhance market distribution, Mainichi Japan also reported.