Cattle Identification Number Display Measures for Shinkai Sangyo Co., Ltd.

On September 15, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that it had confirmed improper handling of identification number displays for specified beef sold by Shinkai Sangyo Co., Ltd., located at 2-3-27 Minamimachi, Hyogo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. The specified beef consisted of beef obtained from cattle recorded in the cattle identification ledger, including carcasses, cuts, and retail cuts.

From January 21 to August 26, 2026, the Kinki Regional Agricultural Administration Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted on-site inspections and other activities under the Act on Special Measures Concerning Management and Transmission of Information for Individual Identification of Cattle. As a result, it confirmed that the company displayed different numbers or nonexistent numbers and sold specified beef without displaying numbers.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries issued an administrative recommendation requiring not only correction of the displays but also investigation and analysis of the causes, measures to prevent recurrence, and thorough compliance with the system.

Under the recommendation, Shinkai Sangyo was required to immediately inspect the identification numbers of the specified beef it currently holds and, if improper displays are found, correct them to proper displays before selling the beef. For specified beef already sold with improper displays, the company must communicate the fact and the proper identification numbers to the purchasers.

The company was required to compile the measures implemented under the recommendation into a report and submit it to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries by October 15, 2026.

The Kinki Regional Agricultural Administration Office identified three types of sales activity. First, the company displayed identification numbers that differed from the facts and sold a total of 829.20 kg to food service operators and others during at least the period from March 22 to October 28, 2024. Second, it displayed numbers that did not exist as identification numbers and sold a total of 87.60 kg to food service operators and others during at least the period from October 11, 2023, to October 25, 2024. Third, it sold a total of 6,320.37 kg to processors and others without displaying identification numbers during at least the period from October 2, 2023, to October 29, 2024.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries determined that these acts violated Article 15, Paragraph 1 of the Cattle Traceability Act and issued a recommendation under Article 18, Paragraph 2 of the Act. The recommendation requires the company to communicate to purchasers the fact and the proper identification numbers for specified beef sold without proper displays. It also states that the main causes of the improper displays may include a lack of awareness of the need to provide correct information and insufficient understanding of the system, as well as deficiencies in the management system and product management system for preventing improper displays, and requires the company to inspect these matters and thoroughly investigate and analyze the causes.

As measures to prevent recurrence, the company was required to clarify responsibility for displaying identification numbers and establish a management system and product management system that can reliably verify proper displays. The recommendation also includes educating all officers and employees about the cattle traceability system and ensuring thorough compliance.