Japan is to introduce new regulations that stipulate mandatory labeling of 30 food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including soybeans, potatoes, and corn. According to the draft regulations, unveiled in August by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF; Tokyo), products that contain more than 5% GMOs would be labeled accordingly, while foodstuffs that may contain GM ingredients (because of imports containing mixtures of GMOs and non-GMOs) would be labeled as "undifferentiated." But products such as soy sauce and cornflakes, which lose GM protein and DNA during the production process, would be exempt from such labeling. Japanese food companies are predicting a sharp increase in the price of products when the new rules come into effect in April 2001. They say that carrying out tests to detect GMOs in the product could increase costs by as much as 50%, and that switching to domestically produced GM-free ingredients could double the original cost. Meanwhile, consumer groups say that labeling products as "undifferentiated" will confuse the public, and are calling for a stricter regulation to be applied on isolated handling of GM crops by exporters.