Japan Seeks Probe Into Suspected Smuggling of Premium

Officials in western Japan have asked the central government to investigate how saplings of the prized Beni Princess citrus variety may have been smuggled into China and offered for sale despite strict controls, Kyodo News reported.

Officials in Ehime Prefecture seek stronger protection for the prized Beni Princess citrus variety.

Ehime Gov. Tokihiro Nakamura submitted a request to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries seeking long-term government support in registering the premium citrus variety in China and protecting its intellectual property.

Beni Princess, often described as a "citrus thoroughbred," was registered as a new variety in Japan in 2022 following its development in Ehime Prefecture, which began in 2005.

Although Ehime has applied to register the variety in China to prevent unauthorized cultivation, the process has not yet been completed.

The prefecture has limited access to Beni Princess seeds and saplings to a small number of authorized companies and has declined requests for overseas inspections.

Nevertheless, Japanese authorities have confirmed that Beni Princess saplings have appeared for sale through online platforms in China.

"We are at a critical juncture in terms of whether we can address this issue so something like this will never happen," Agriculture Minister Norikazu Suzuki said.

Beni Princess combines the texture of Beni Madonna with the sweet juice of Kanpei, both citrus varieties developed in Ehime Prefecture.