Another Ag Minister Resigns

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has accepted Agriculture Minister Seiichi Ota's decision to resign to take responsibility for the tainted rice scandal. I can't remember how many times I have had to write this here on Kurashi: "another agriculture minister resigns/commits suicide/involved in a scandal."

Only yesterday, Mr. Ota appeared at the Lower House agriculture, forestry and fisheries committee, where he apologized over the ministry's lenient handling of issues concerning tainted rice in Japan, and announced changes in government systems to check for contaminated rice.

The Mainichi: Farm minister apologizes over soft response to tainted rice problems

Shodanren, the largest association of Japanese consumer groups, held a rally yesterday in Tokyo to protest the government's failure to catch a rice distributor's sales of tainted rice. The association criticized the ministry, saying its lenient inspections missed an illicit act. They are also angry because the ministry had said it would focus on consumer safety, but it turned out to be a bogus claim. Consumer organizations are now calling for separating consumer affairs administration from the agriculture ministry.

Previously:
Cheap, Pesticide-Laced Rice Sold To Hospitals?

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