China's Ministry of Commerce is urging farmers to raise production standards in order to keep their share of the lucrative Japanese market after the introduction of tough new rules on Monday.

Chinese farmers could bear the brunt of Japan's stricter standards on chemical residues unless they raise production and quality levels, ministry spokesman Chong Quan said.

The Positive List System for Agricultural Chemicals Residues on Foods had raised the threshold on farm produce exports to Japan and could restrain the healthy trade of the two countries, said Chong.

"The system relates to more than an issue of technical standards. Our concern is the issue of fair trade," he said.

China, Japan's largest source of farm produce, exported nearly 8 billion U.S. dollars worth of agricultural products to Japan last year.

Chong said the Chinese government respected the Japanese government's stance of securing domestic consumer health. China is also "highly concerned" by the negative impact of the new rules on Chinese companies and farmers.

More than 6,300 Chinese companies and 16 million farmers would be affected by the new system, said the spokesman.

"It is China's hope that the Japanese government would take necessary measures to secure its normal trade with China without sacrificing its food quality standards," he said.

China has also urged domestic export-oriented firms to strengthen self-inspection during production and make efforts to avert export risks, he added.

To cope with possible problems arising from the implementation of new Japanese rules, the Ministry of Commerce and other government departments concerned had organized training programs to help export companies readjust their production and make more reasonable use of pesticides.

More than 4,000 people from Beijing, Shandong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Jiangsu and Anhui participated in the training between late last year and March this year, said Chong.

The ministry had also released disks, guidebooks and brochures on the possible impact of the new regulations and posted analysis reports on its official website, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2006)