From Bio Journal - December 2007
Chiba University and Hyogo College of Medicine violate Cartagena law
(Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2007/10/18)
AIST violates rules on handling of dangerous microorganisms
(Asahi Newspaper 2007/10/18, and others)
Science Council of Japan report on assisted repromed focuses on surrogacy
Fertilized ovum cloned cattle become meat for human consumption
GM crop approvals for October 2007
Closeup: Side effects in gene therapy for Parkinson's disease
From Bio Journal - November 2007
Trend: Second round of Codex GMO meeting ends
Human clone embryo research: use of fertilized triploid ova discussed
Closeup: New "Draft National Biodiversity Strategy" finalised
From Bio Journal - October 2007
MHLW approves commercialization of cultured skin for transplants (Asahi Shinbun 2007/08/24)
First approvals for clinical research on human stem cell under new guidelines (Biotechnology Japan 2007/08/30)
GM crop approval data for July
Closeup: Gene therapy technology as a tool for regenerative medicine
From Bio Journal - September 2007
Development of multi-disease resistant GM rice in Japan (Joyo Sinbun 2007/07/18)
Codex GMO meeting in Japan in September
4th generation somatic cell pig born (Yomiuri Shinbun 2007/08/07)
US gene therapy patient dies (Mainichi Shinbun 28/07/2007)
Gene therapy for AIDS begins with monkeys (Takara Bio Press Release, 17/07/2007)
Decision for 5-year extension of order-made medicine project
Basic guidelines for fertilized abnormal ova use in human clone embryo research
Research project including genetically engineered human ES cells approved
From Bio Journal - August 2007
MAFF indicates the direction of GM crop promotion
Hyogo prefecture's test showed 60% Tofu products contain GMOs
Kanagawa Prefecture to establish bylaw for regulation of GM crop cultivation
Human iPS cells not covered by national regulations
Human clone embryo research - discussion begins on abnormal fertilized ova
MEXT begins consideration of promotion of order-made medicine
This month's GM crop data approvals
Closeup: Spilled GM canola still spreading
From Bio Journal - July 2007
Draft first report on human clone embryo finalised
Japan's GMO-free zone now exceeds 1% of farmland
Cells analogous to ES cell produced (Nature 2007/06/06)
GM crop approval details for May 2007
Closeup: A stalemate? GM rice R&D
From Bio Journal - June 2007
NIAS to plant cedar pollen allergenic GM rice again this year
First genetic therapy for Parkinson's disease begins in Japan
Two-thirds of processed foods either have GM contaminated raw materials or are unanalysable
Illegal sales of glowing GM freshwater fish (Sankei Shinbun 2007/04/25)
GM crop approval details for April 2007
Closeup: Second Generation Biofuels
From Bio Journal - May 2007
Asia Citizens Rice Action finishes with demonstration against GM rice
Outdoor trials of GM poplar approved
Suntory develops high phosphorus accumulating torenia (Suntory)
Pollen allergy alleviating rice becomes "pharmaceutical" (Yomiuri Shinbun 2007/03/31)
GM rice trial at Hokuriku Research Center ends
Kitasato University holds symposium on DNA testing
The Science Council of Japan discusses legal aspects of assisted reproduction
First Japanese project to establish human ES cell lines partially revised
Monsanto and BASF eye biofuel demand
From Bio Journal - April 2007
Work begins on the revision of guidelines banning research on human clone embryos
Panel on bioethics approves relaxation of human ES cell guidelines
GM crop approval data for February 2007
Closeup: Rice pollen could drift 8 times more than the national standard
From Bio Journal - March 2007
Illegal and unapproved GM rice contamination in rice products from China
Cloned cattle - still many abnormalities
Hokkaido's GM consensus conference ends
95% misled by GM food labelling (Fuji Sankei Business Eye 2007/01/29)
Science Council of Japan begins discussion of assisted reproduction techniques
MEXT establishes working group on "order-made medicine"
MHLW fails to recognize efficacy of Iressa (Mainichi Shinbun 2007/02/02, and other sources)
From Bio Journal - February 2007
Second approval of an ES cell production project in Japan
Principles clarified for somatic cell donation in human clone embryo research
Second special investigative panel on bioethics inaugurated
MAFF reports on the state of implementation of the guidelines for outdoor cultivation of GMOs
First approval by MAFF of a GM tree for outdoor cultivation (GM crop approval data for December 2006 and January 2007)
Closeup: GM maize for ethanol production
From Bio Journal - January 2007
Researchers call for relaxation of regulations on means of obtaining human embryos
Cedar pollen allergenic GM rice to be tested on humans
Bio-fuel and GMOs
GM crop approval data for November 2006