On 4 June 2009, the Food Safety Commission assessed a GM papaya as safe. It is due to receive approval following the solicitation of public comments. This is a papaya variety with resistance against the papaya ringspot virus and has had a mildly toxic gene from the same virus inserted into it. The variety has been cultivated in Hawaii since 1998 and has been involved in a number of cases of illegal import into Japan since that time. The safety assessment process was held up for a considerable time due to inadequate data, and further a Dutch researcher has also pointed out that the papaya variety 'has a high risk of allergic reaction.' (See BJ March 2006 and BJ April 2006) If this papaya is approved, it will be the first GM food to reach the dining table that intended to be eaten raw.

On 31 July 2009, the MEXT working group on the production and use of reproductive cells from human ES cells and other kinds of cells held a meeting for the first time in seven months (See BJ January 2009). At the end of 2008, the basic policy of allowing production only of reproductive cells was established, and in February 2009 this received approval from the higher body, the Bioethics and Safety Council. At this long-awaited meeting of the working group, confirmation of three items to be discussed from now on was carried out. 1. How the reproductive cells produced should be managed, 2. The nature of informed consent when producing the cells, and 3. Procedures to be taken when implementing research. Concerning application of the guideline, at the very least it will be necessary to revise the current guideline on research on human ES cells, and it is said that whether or not a new guideline will be formulated will depend on how the discussions go from now on.

On 25 June 2009, the Food Safety Commission assessed food from somatic cell cloned livestock to be safe and forwarded its report to MHLW (See BJ July 2009). Immediately following this, on June 30, MAFF released its Current State of Cloned Livestock for the period up to 31 March 2009.

According to the report, a mere six head of germ line cell cloned cattle have been born in the year covered by the report, whereas 20 head of somatic cell cloned cattle were born, suggesting that the focus of research is now turning to somatic cell cloned cattle. Further, it appears that the research into these cattle has become very active over the year, with 23 head of somatic cell cloned cattle undergoing experimental slaughter. 48 somatic cell cloned pigs have also been born over the year, data such as the numbers of stillborn and post-natal deaths not being indicated.

Table 1: State of Livestock Clone Research in Japan (head)
.	as of 31 March 2008	as of 31 March 2009
Total No. of births of germ line cell cloned cattle	716	722
Stillborn	74	74
Post-natal death	34	35
Death from sickness, etc	102	102
Death from accidents	19	19
Redundant	26	28
Experimental slaughter	46	52
Sold, meat production (missing)	387 (63)	394 (63)
In research facilities, testing	28	18
In uterus	8	4
Total No. of births of somatic cell cloned cattle	551	571
Stillborn	78	79
Post-natal death	91	94
Death from sickness, etc	134	141
Death from accidents	8	9
Redundant	11	11
Experimental slaughter	143	166
In research facilities, testing	86	71
In uterus	16	7
Total No. of births of somatic cell cloned pigs	328	376
Total No. of births of somatic cell cloned goats	9	9
Figures are totals for the period 1998 to March 2008 or 1998 to March 2009.