Unauthorized sale of Japan-developed seedlings suspected in China, S. Korea

TOKYO - Seedlings of about 50 Japanese-developed farm product varieties, including prized citrus and strawberries, are suspected to have been sold online without permission, a farm ministry survey showed Friday.

The findings from the survey, conducted between July and September last year, come as the Japanese government steps up efforts to tackle the unauthorized outflow of farm products overseas by seeking passage of a revised plant variety protection law during the ongoing ordinary parliamentary session.