The Japanese government, long notorious for its draconian import controls, has relaxed rules concerning agrochemical residues on green coffee imports. It is anticipated that this move will allow a higher influx of coffee imports from big producers, particularly Brazil which accounts for 28% of Japan’s coffee imports. Japan is currently the world’s third largest coffee importer. 

The agrochemical residue in question is pyraclostrobin, a fungicide.  

The government announced that the import tolerance limit would be raised from 0.1 parts per million to 0.3 for incoming coffee, mirroring the limit set by the Codex Alimentarious Commission. The mew measure is to be introduced immediately.

Coffee associations in Japan had conceded that Japan’s harsh import controls had hampered imports greatly and depleted bean stocks to a record low since December 2004, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. However, in light of competing demand from abroad, particularly China, and consequent price hikes, Japan’s loosening of its pyraclostrobin tolerance levels could be seen as a step towards broader changes and also as an effort towards  attracting exporters again.