Japan government urged to probe unauthorized flow of prized citrus saplings to China

TOKYO - A local government in western Japan on Monday asked the central government to probe how saplings of a prized citrus variety may have been smuggled into China and marketed there despite producers' efforts to prevent it.

Ehime Gov. Tokihiro Nakamura submitted a letter of request to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, calling for long-term government support throughout the process of registering the quality citrus in China and protecting the fruit.