随意ずいい契約けいやくで売り渡うりわたした備蓄びちく米まい きょう全ぜん都道とどう府県ふけんで販売はんばいへ

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced by the 12th that sales of the stockpiled rice sold under negotiated contracts have begun in 46 prefectures, excluding Okinawa.

Okinawa Prefecture, the only one remaining, is also scheduled to begin sales as early as the 13th, which means sales will expand to all prefectures. However, the challenge going forward will be whether the sufficient stockpile of rice can be distributed even more thoroughly.

Regarding the stockpiled rice sold through discretionary contracts, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that, based on interviews with supermarkets and convenience stores, they confirmed that sales had started at a total of 3,731 stores in 46 prefectures, excluding Okinawa, as of the 12th.

Sales are also scheduled to begin at some stores in Okinawa Prefecture as early as the 13th, meaning that the sale of stockpiled rice, which was sold through negotiated contracts, will be underway in every prefecture.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi told reporters on the night of the 12th, We need to increase the quantity from now on, but Im really glad that sales have started nationwide for now.

However, even in prefectures where sales have already started, there are some stores where, although stockpiled rice is scheduled to arrive, the exact timing has not been decided, and there are also places where rice sold out quickly after sales began.

For the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the challenge going forward will be whether they can more thoroughly distribute a sufficient amount of stockpiled rice to stabilize rice prices.

The presidents of six major supermarkets and convenience stores that purchased stockpiled rice through negotiated contracts met with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi on the 13th.

At the meeting, Minister Koizumi said, With the sale of reserve rice through negotiated contracts, starting today with in-store sales in Okinawa, it will now be distributed to all 47 prefectures.

However, in terms of quantity and the number of municipalities involved, there is still much more to be done to expand it further.

I would like to continue working together with you.

In response, many company presidents expressed concerns that, as they accelerate the sale of reserve rice in stores, applications to rice milling factories are flooding in and causing delays, and that congestion is occurring when transporting reserve rice from storage warehouses.

In addition, regarding the stockpiled rice that was sold through negotiated contracts, there have been calls to extend the deadline by which it is required to be sold out by the end of August this year.

The government has decided in a cabinet meeting to prohibit the resale of rice. As stockpiled rice, sold at a discount through discretionary contracts, gradually appears on store shelves, concerns are being raised about it being resold at high prices.

In this context, the government decided at a cabinet meeting on the 13th to revise a government ordinance to prohibit people who purchase rice, including stockpiled rice, polished rice, or brown rice at supermarkets and other retail stores from reselling it at a higher price than the purchase price.

If violated, a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of up to one million yen will be imposed.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi said at a press conference after the cabinet meeting, Reselling rice at high prices is not desirable, as it could lead to a further increase in rice prices.

Stockpiled rice sold through negotiated contracts is sold at a low price, so the risk of resale is high.

I believe that by regulating resale, we can ensure that inexpensive rice is delivered to consumers in a stable manner, he said.