Taiwan exports rice to Japan, the only developed nation that has not approved the planting of GM crops. The term "genetically modified" makes Japanese people uneasy, and Taiwan's Council of Agriculture is therefore concerned that allowing GM rice to be grown could restrict Taiwan's rice exports to Japan. This is one reason why the authorities in Taiwan have been so reluctant to allow phytase-enhanced rice to pass field testing.
余淑美透露，台灣米外銷日本，而日本是先進國家中唯一仍未核准種植基改作物者，一般日本民眾對於「基改」一詞更是敏感，農委會擔心稻米銷日因此受阻，遲遲不願通過植酸酵素米的田間試驗。