The largest number of cases have been detected, including meat products that are not allowed to be brought in.
It was found that the number of meat products prohibited to be brought into Japan was detected at airports and other places, and the number of cases caught last year was the highest. The government has decided to strengthen measures on the waterfront, saying there is a risk of introducing the virus such as ASF (African Swine Fever), which is an infectious disease of swine.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, over 110,000 meat products and other livestock products were discovered at airports and harbors during the past year without permission.
It increased by about 16,000 cases compared to the previous year, the largest since 2005 when the data was released.
Looking at the breakdown, China accounted for more than 50,000, accounting for 45% of the total, followed by Thailand with more than 8,700 and South Korea with more than 6,900.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says that with the increase in foreign tourists visiting Japan, cases of bringing meat products as baggage without knowing that it is prohibited by law are increasing.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (METI) has submitted a proposal to the Diet to amend the law, including tightening penalties, in anticipation of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, saying that the risk of ASF virus being introduced through such meat products is increasing. We will further strengthen border measures.