JAPAN

U.S. Can Bring In Rice Samples: The United States will be allowed to bring rice samples into Japan for an exhibition in April, but it cannot promote their sale or allow anyone to taste them, Agriculture Minister Masami Tanabu said. Japan bans rice imports and controls domestic distribution and prices of rice. It argues that rice self-sufficiency is a national security matter. The United States has asked to be allowed to bring rice to the food fair April 14-16 in Tokyo, Tanabu said. Last spring the U.S. Rice Council withdrew samples of rice from a food exhibition after ministry officials said they violated the Food Control Law.