Helping Almond Exporters Streamline Compliance and Reduce Rejection Risks
Safe Food Alliance is proud to announce its status as an approved lab under the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Almond Board of California, USDA, and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). The Protocol for the Control of Aflatoxin in U.S. Almonds Exported to Japan, is a pretesting program designed to help almond exporters meet Japan’s strict aflatoxin testing requirements with greater efficiency and confidence.
A Milestone for the California Almond Industry
As the first approved lab under this program, Safe Food Alliance is committed to supporting almond exporters by providing accurate and reliable aflatoxin testing. Brendan O’Donnell, President & CEO of DFA of California and Safe Food Alliance, emphasized the significance of this achievement:
“We are thrilled to be an approved lab under this important program. This marks a major milestone for the California almond industry, and we are honored to continue our 117-year legacy of service by leading the way in this initiative. Our strong partnerships with the Almond Board, USDA, and MHLW reinforce our commitment to ensuring the industry’s ongoing success in the global marketplace.”
Minimizing Risk, Maximizing Confidence
Japan has historically posed challenges for almond exporters due to its stringent aflatoxin limits and the potential for shipment rejections. Protocol for the Control of Aflatoxin in U.S. Almonds Exported to Japan provides a proactive solution, offering exporters a predictable and reliable pathway for compliance.
Tom Jones, Senior Technical Advisor and Director of Training & Consulting at Safe Food Alliance, highlighted the program’s impact:
“Japan has always been a challenging market when it comes to aflatoxin testing and load rejections. This agreement between the Almond Board, USDA and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will greatly reduce the chances of aflatoxin rejections upon arrival. Japan has recognized the sound science of the USDA-approved testing protocols used by Safe Food Alliance. Plans are also being finalized to allow reprocessing of rejected loads in Yokohama, much like the arrangements that the industry has in the EU.”
Ensuring Compliance with Japan’s Aflatoxin Limits
Under the MHLW Pre-Testing Program, exporters can ensure their almonds meet Japan’s strict aflatoxin limits before shipment.
By pre-testing almonds before export, companies can avoid costly delays and rejections at Japanese ports, ensuring a smoother and more efficient trade process.
Trusted Testing for a Global Market
Derek Ramirez, Director of Lab Operations at Safe Food Alliance, praised the collaborative effort behind this initiative:
“I am truly grateful for the efforts of the Almond Board, USDA, and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare in finalizing this agreement. These well-defined guidelines will ensure high-quality laboratory results that are consistent, reproducible, and accurately represent the exported product.”
Get Started with Safe Food Alliance
As a trusted partner to the almond industry, Safe Food Alliance is ready to help exporters navigate Japan’s regulatory landscape with confidence. Learn more about how we can assist with the MHLW Pre-Testing Program by visiting Safe Food Alliance’s Laboratory Services.
