Recent Appeal to the Ministry of Health Regarding Publeric Acid Disclosure Decisions

On April 22, 2026, the Japanese Ministry of Health announced a decision stating that there was no factual basis for the public disclosure of Publeric Acid as a causative substance. This led to a series of complaints regarding the validity of this decision. The Kunsei Club Co., Ltd., led by pharmacist Masakazu Mori and located in Okayama Prefecture, submitted three collective administrative appeals (the 16th, 17th, and 18th of their series) to address this issue.

Overview of the Case

The appeals were submitted to question the judgment made by the Ministry of Health regarding the non-disclosure of documents related to the decision-making process that categorized Publeric Acid as a potential health risk in relation to the 2024 red yeast rice incident. The Ministry concluded that no documents exist to discuss the rationale or scientific basis for this classification, thus deeming the related documents “non-existent.”

Background on the Non-Disclosure Decision

The Kunsei Club demanded access to administrative documents concerning the decision-making process, which included the history of terminology usage, discussions on scientific evidence, and records of consultations with the Osaka City Public Health Center and the National Institute of Health Sciences. Despite these requests, the Ministry decided not to disclose these documents based on their assertion that no factual basis had been established for Publeric Acid as a designated causative substance.

Claims Made by Kunsei Club

In 2024, various media outlets publicized the potential health hazards linked with Publeric Acid. However, the Ministry’s recent decision contradictory claims that no such categorization was made, and thus no documentation exists to outline this decision-making process. The Kunsei Club argues that given the historical use of the term in official communication, the absence of any documentation to support the Ministry’s assertions raises concerns about the rationality of the decision.

Identified Discrepancies with Other Government Agencies

Additionally, discrepancies between the Ministry of Health’s and the Consumer Affairs Agency’s findings have emerged, further complicating the issue. The notices from the Consumer Affairs Agency explicitly state that references to Publeric Acid were derived from materials supplied by the Ministry of Health. In contrast, the Ministry denies the existence of any material that acknowledges Publeric Acid as a causative agent. Such contradictions necessitate a thorough investigation into the matter.

Objective of the Administrative Appeal

Through these appeals, the Kunsei Club seeks to ascertain whether adequate efforts were made to locate and identify relevant documents and whether the rationale for declaring the absence of documents is justifiable in light of the inconsistencies between government branches. Advocating from the standpoint of a traditional food producer, this appeal emphasizes the necessity for the government to provide accountability regarding the basis for the classification of causative substances.