Import Inspection Order for Chinese Okra
Overview
After the pesticide mepiquat chloride was detected in okra from China, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that it had ordered inspection of every lot for each import notification under Article 26, Paragraph 3 of the Food Sanitation Act. This is the first inspection order for the pesticide in Chinese okra. Three violations were confirmed, with detections exceeding the standard of 0.01 ppm, and all cargo is being held in storage. The materials also present an assessment of mepiquat chloride intake and import figures for 2025 and 2026.
Key points
- Inspection of every lot for each import notification was ordered for okra from China and its simply processed products.
- This is the first inspection order for mepiquat chloride in okra from China.
- There were 3 violations, and all cargo is being held in storage.
- In the hypothetical example in the materials, even if a person weighing 60 kg ate 75 kg of okra containing a residue concentration of 0.24 ppm every day, neither the acceptable daily intake nor the acute reference dose would be exceeded, and no immediate health effects are expected.
Overview
Following the detection of mepiquat chloride in okra from China during quarantine station monitoring tests, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare implemented an inspection order under Article 26, Paragraph 3 of the Food Sanitation Act and notified the heads of each quarantine station.
Details
The order covers okra from China and its simply processed products, with mepiquat chloride as the inspection item. Importers must have every lot inspected for each import notification.
There were 3 violations. Residues of 0.12 ppm were detected in frozen okra for consumption without heating, and 0.04 ppm and 0.24 ppm in frozen okra for consumption after heating; all exceeded the standard of 0.01 ppm. The arrival dates were August 24, September 10, and October 4, 2026, and the violation confirmation dates were September 18, October 9, and October 26 of the same year. All cargo is being held in storage.
For 2025, there were 2,022 import notifications, 3 inspections, and 0 violations. The preliminary figures for the period covered in the 2026 materials were 1,399 notifications, 30 inspections, and 3 violations. Inspection counts refer to mepiquat chloride testing.