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**October 1998**

**Attache Reports**

The following are highlights fromrecent U.S. agricultural attache reports that are available onthe FAS homepage at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/AttacheRep/attache_frm.idc.

**Japan (Report numberJA8076)****:**Japan’s imports of plantingseeds during calendar year (CY) 1997 dropped 19 percent to 96,000metric tons, from 118,000 metric tons in CY 1996 even thoughJapan’s expenditures for each year totaled 15 billion Yen.The fall in the quantity of seed imports is primarily due to theweakening of the Yen against foreign currencies making importsmore expensive to Japanese consumers. 

Forage seed from Australia makes up the bulk of seed importsto Japan in terms of quantity. Over 2,608 metric tons of forageseed representing 76 percent of all seed imports into Japan camefrom Australia during CY 1997. Japan’s purchases ofAustralian forage seed represented 2,157 million Yen or 14percent in terms of value of all seed imports by Japan during CY1997.

The United States is an important supplier of many varietiesof planting seeds to Japan, especially grass and vegetable seed.Planting seeds from the United States represented about 15percent in terms of quantity and 46 percent in terms of value ofall seed imports by Japan during CY 1997. 

More than 96 percent of the rye grass seed imported by Japancame from the United States during CY 1997 and CY 1996.Japan’s imports of U.S. rye grass seed fell to 3,399 metrictons during CY 1997, from 3,704 metric tons in CY 1996. Inaddition, over 75 percent of the amount of fescue seed importedby Japan during CY 1997 came from the United States. Japanpurchased 1,812 metric tons and 2,108 metric tons of U.S. fescueseed during CY 1997 and CY 1996, respectively. 

The United States also dominates the vegetable seed importmarket in Japan. During CY 1996 and CY 1997, vegetable seedscoming from the United States represented 45 percent of allJapan’s vegetable seed imports in terms of quantity. Japanimported over 2,035 metric tons of vegetable seed in CY 1997,down from 2,880 metric tons in CY 1996. Japan’s outlays forU.S. vegetable seed also fell during CY 1997 to 1,482 millionYen, from 1,850 million Yen.

Consumer groups continue to express strong resistance to theintroduction of transgenic planting seed in Japan. Despiteefforts by Japanese Government sources and the trade media toinform the public of the positive aspects of transgenic seed,consumer groups persistently push for labeling requirements andfull disclosure to consumers distinguishing transgenic productsfrom traditional farm products. During August of this year, theJapan Consumer Union, a civic group comprising farm and consumerorganizations, launched an intensive campaign contesting thebenefits of "terminator" technology. Terminatortechnology eliminates a planting seed’s ability toreproduce. Consumer groups fear that such technology will deprivefarmers from saving seeds while allowing seed companies to attainmonopolistic control over the seed market at the expense of thefamily farm. 

**Greece (Report number GR8034)****:**Domestic production of cotton seed has fallen since theintroduction of SJ2 Acala varieties into the Greek market. U.S.cotton seed represents 75 percent of the market and has furtherpotential to grow. Results from field trials of transgenic cottonseed are proving the seed to be effective in deterring insectsfrom damaging cotton crops. The seed is being tested in areaswhere bollworm attacks are reported to be as high as 30 percent.BT-Corn is scheduled to undergo field tests in 1999 provided theMinistry of Environment issues the proper approvals. 

Farmers in Greece prefer U.S. wheat seed butare unable to import wheat seed from the United States due toKarnal bunt restrictions imposed by the Government of Greece.Wheat seed imports by Greece are estimated to be about 46,000metric tons annually and are subject to sampling and testing asrequired by the Ministry of Agriculture. Many farmers purchasewheat seed about every 3-4 years relying on saved seeds fromprevious harvests to produce wheat. 

**Key Development**

**Mexico Publishes Regulations forRegistering New Plant Varieties.******On September 24,1998, the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and RuralDevelopment (SAGAR) announced the publication of the Regulationof the Federal Law of Plant Varieties. The regulation becameeffective on September 25, 1998, and governs the approval andregistration process of new plant varieties in Mexico. Theregulation also provides guidance on the rights of new plantvariety developers. More information may be found on SAGAR’shome page located at the following Internet address: http://www.sagar.gob.mx and http://www.secofi.gob.mx.These web sites are mentioned for readers’ convenience butthe USDA does not in any way endorse the information contained onthe mentioned sites. 

For more information on U.S. Planting Seed Trade you maycontact Mark Rasmussenat (202) 720-9497

|  | Data in this report is available in both Adobe        Acrobat and Lotus 123 formats. You may need to Get        the Adobe Acrobat Reader. |
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**Planting Seed Exports July-Jun** in Adobe PDF Format or Lotus 123**Planting Seed Imports July-May** in Adobe PDF Format or Lotus 123

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| *Last modified: Friday, November 13, 1998* |