RESUMO
The Animal Products Safety Division (APSD) of Japan was created in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in October 2005 to strengthen the role of the Ministry in animal production food safety. The authors outline the background to the establishment of the APSD and its functions. The APSD is engaged in administration related to risk management during the production stage of terrestrial and aquatic animal products. The APSD endeavours to ensure that risk management measures are taken in accordance with the relevant laws, regulations and administrative notifications and that they are based on risk assessment and science. The APSD works in close collaboration with other national agencies, prefecture governments, foreign governments and international organisations.