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Crisis Management, Legal Compliance, and Addressing Social Issues

Food Manufacturing (SSW 2) · 飲食料品製造業(2号) · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Compliance, Whistleblower Protection, and Food Defense

The link from raw material production to manufacturing, distribution, and consumption is the 'Food Supply Chain,' and interested parties such as consumers, business partners, employees, and local communities are 'Stakeholders.' Foremen translate company policies into concrete on-site actions.

Compliance includes not only laws and ordinances but also internal rules and corporate ethics. Under the 'Whistleblower Protection Act,' dismissal or disadvantageous treatment of any worker (including part-time and foreign workers) for reporting misconduct is prohibited.

Because HACCP (which prevents accidental contamination) alone cannot prevent 'intentional contamination with foreign matter or poison,' 'Food Defense' is required. Combine hardware measures (cameras, locks, pocketless uniforms, restrictions on personal items) with software measures (active communication and an open workplace culture).

Key points


  • Compliance encompasses laws, internal rules, and social ethics; the Whistleblower Protection Act prohibits firing or retaliating against whistleblowers.

  • Food Defense against intentional contamination requires measures from a different perspective than HACCP.

  • Combine hardware measures (access control, cameras, pocketless uniforms) and software measures (good workplace communication) in Food Defense.
WordMeaning
food supply chain, stakeholders
compliance (observing laws and ethics)
Whistleblower Protection Act
Food Defense
intentional contamination

Food Labeling Act and Beef & Rice Traceability Acts

Under the 'Food Labeling Act,' ingredients are listed in descending order of weight, separated from additives by a slash ('/') or similar mark. Domestically manufactured processed foods must display the 'Place of Origin of Raw Materials' for the top-weight ingredient.

Fast-deteriorating foods display a 'Use-by Date (Shouhikigen),' while relatively shelf-stable foods display a 'Best-before Date (Shoumikigen).' The 5 mandatory nutrition labeling items are 'Energy, Protein, Fat, Carbohydrates, and Salt Equivalent,' and the 8 specific raw materials (shrimp, crab, walnut, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk, peanut) are mandatory allergen labels.

The 'Beef Traceability Act' mandates displaying and recording a 10-digit Individual Identification Number, while the 'Rice Traceability Act' mandates keeping transaction records (in principle for 3 years) and communicating origin information for rice and rice products.

Key points


  • List ingredients by weight order, label the origin of the #1 weight ingredient in domestic processed foods, and distinguish Use-by from Best-before dates.

  • Accurately label the 5 mandatory nutrition items (Energy, Protein, Fat, Carbohydrates, Salt Equivalent) and 8 mandatory allergens (including walnut).

  • Comply with the Beef Traceability Act (10-digit ID number) and Rice Traceability Act (record retention and origin communication).
WordMeaning
Food Labeling Act, raw material origin labeling
use-by date (expiration), best-before date
salt equivalent (nutrition facts labeling)
8 mandatory allergen ingredients
cattle individual identification number (10 digits)

Environmental Measures (3R, Food Loss, Industrial Waste, Wastewater)

The priority order for environmental 3R is '(1) Reduce → (2) Reuse → (3) Recycle (e.g., turning into feed or fertilizer),' while food loss is reduced by relaxing the 1/3 delivery rule, improving demand forecasting, and extending shelf life.

The waste-generating business bears responsibility for industrial waste disposal and verifies final disposal using an Industrial Waste Management Ticket ('Manifest'). For wastewater, wipe off oil and food residue before washing, and maintain water quality (BOD, SS, pH) using grease traps and wastewater treatment facilities.

Environmental Measures (3R, Food Loss, Industrial Waste, Wastewater)

Key points


  • Pursue 3R in the priority order '(1) Reduce → (2) Reuse → (3) Recycle,' track industrial waste to final disposal via Manifests, and reduce wastewater load.

  • In wastewater management, wipe off oil and food residue before washing and clean grease traps to meet water quality indicators (BOD, SS, pH).
WordMeaning
3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
industrial waste, Manifest (waste tracking ticket)
grease trap, water quality indicators (BOD, SS, pH)

Business & Human Rights, Women's Participation Act, and Anti-Harassment Laws

The three pillars of 'Business and Human Rights' are '(1) Formulating a human rights policy → (2) Conducting human rights due diligence (investigating and preventing risks across the entire supply chain) → (3) Remedy.'

Comply with the 'Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement' (mandating action plans and disclosure of the gender wage gap for companies with 101+ employees) and anti-harassment laws (Labor Measures Comprehensive Promotion Act, Equal Employment Opportunity Act, Child and Family Care Leave Act) to build a multicultural workplace.

Key points


  • Advance the three pillars of Business and Human Rights (Policy, Human Rights Due Diligence, Remedy) across the entire supply chain.

  • Comply with the Women's Participation Promotion Act (mandatory gender wage gap disclosure for 101+ workers) and harassment prevention laws.
WordMeaning
human rights due diligence
Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement
Labor Measures Comprehensive Promotion Act, Equal Employment Opportunity Act

Social Expectations of Food Companies

Practice this chapter in the app

Official references