Japanese guidelines for mutagenicity testing. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Ministry of Health and Welfare; Ministry of Labor.

Several Japanese agencies are required to perform mutagenicity tests according to regulatory guidelines. Although each agency's guidelines address a specific purpose, the experimental principles behind them are similar, and general methodological recommendations have been issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries [1985]; Ministry of Health and Welfare [1990]; Ministry of Labor [1991]; and Ministry of Health and Welfare [1992]. Four major guidelines for mutagenicity testing in Japan and some amendments are briefly introduced. In addition, several procedures in Japanese guidelines that differ from those of other countries or organizations are discussed.