Japanese authorities have threatened to stop importing Vietnamese rice if prohibited substances are found in its rice imports.

According to the Ministry of Trade, the ministry has received a notice from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare that Japanese customs agencies had found evidence of violations of Japanese laws on food hygiene in Vietnamese rice.

Japan is one of the biggest export markets for Vietnam. Most of the rice exported to Japan is under the contracts Vietnam wins at the bids for rice provisions held by the Government of Japan every year.