Japan Establishes Specialized Agency to Combat Overseas Leakage of Plant Varieties like 'Beni Princess'

(Japan Today, Tokyo, 13th — Comprehensive foreign news report) Recently, Japanese-developed agricultural varieties have repeatedly been leaked overseas. In response, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) will establish a new specialized agency to manage plant variety rights, monitor unauthorized cultivation both domestically and abroad, and support infringement lawsuits overseas.

According to reports from Kyodo News and the Sankei Shimbun, a 2025 MAFF survey revealed that around 50 Japanese-developed crop varieties, including the premium citrus 'Beni Princess' (Beni Princess) from Ehime Prefecture, have been transferred to China and South Korea and are being openly sold on online platforms.

'Beni Princess' is a premium citrus variety developed by Ehime Prefecture over nearly 20 years. It is known for its tender flesh, melt-in-the-mouth texture, and rich sweetness. It was officially launched last year, selling for approximately 500 yen per fruit (about 100 New Taiwan dollars).

However, sellers offering 'Beni Princess' seedlings have already appeared on Chinese online shopping platforms, pricing each seedling at around 1,000 yen (approximately 197 New Taiwan dollars).

In response, in addition to planning amendments to the 'Seedling and Seed Act' during the current Diet session, MAFF will strengthen management by establishing a new agency by the end of August.

The new agency will be based in Japan and composed of experts familiar with intellectual property law and agricultural fields. Since local governments or individual farmers who develop new varieties often struggle to protect their rights overseas due to language and legal knowledge barriers, the agency will handle related matters on their behalf, reducing the burden on developers.

Furthermore, the agency will encourage third parties outside the developer community to obtain formal authorization before using seedlings overseas, and the collected licensing fees will be reinvested into new variety development. The government is also considering strengthening oversight of domestic seedling producers. (Translation: Li Jing) 1150713