Summary
The Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Centre (FAMIC) of Japan was created in April 2007 with the task of improving the quality and labelling of agricultural products and of ensuring the quality and safety of fertilizer, agricultural chemicals, feed and feed additives and soil improvement materials in the interests of consumers. The authors outline the background to the establishment of the FAMIC and its functions. To achieve its mission, the FAMIC is engaged in the inspection of agricultural products and materials at every stage of the food chain. The FAMIC develops and validates analytical methods for food products and materials that should be used in official inspections and works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan and other national agencies, prefecture governments and international organisations.

Keywords
Administrative agency, Agriculture chemicals, Feed safety, Fertilizer safety, Food labelling, Food safety, Food standards, Japan.