World to Japan: No "Sushi Police," Please

AP reports that Japan has called off plans to police Japanese restaurants overseas for authenticity. Tokyo appointed a panel of food experts in November to discuss a certification system that would crack down on restaurants abroad that bill themselves as authentic Japanese, but fall short of culinary standards at home.

But the Agriculture Ministry panel now has called off the plan after receiving complaints - some from overseas - that the system was discriminatory.

The plan had been championed by Agriculture Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who has accused overseas restaurants of using "culinary techniques and ingredients far removed from those of authentic Japanese food".