Overseas Merchandise Inspection

What Overseas Merchandise Inspection does

Overseas Merchandise Inspection Co., Ltd. (OMIC) is a privately held Japanese food safety testing company founded in 1954 in Tokyo, specializing in laboratory analytical services for agricultural products moving through international trade. Its core offering spans pesticide residue analysis (600+ compounds), mycotoxin testing, heavy metal and mineral quantification via ICP-MS, GMO detection using ELISA and PCR, nutritional composition analysis, and supplementary panels covering allergens, food additives, contaminants, and radioactivity. Testing is performed on GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, ICP-MS, ELISA, and PCR instruments across an integrated network of three overseas laboratories in Bangkok (est. 1954), Portland, Oregon (est. 1993), and Melbourne, Australia, coordinated through the Tokyo headquarters.

The business model is fee-for-service laboratory testing sold through direct enterprise engagement, with quote-based pricing that varies by analytical scope, sample type, applicable regulatory standard (Japan MHLW, Korea MFDS, Thailand TISI, etc.), and turnaround requirements. Customer segments are concentrated in agricultural exporters shipping into Japan, international grain trading firms, and Japanese food importers requiring third-party safety certification for customs clearance and documentation; outreach is conducted through industry organization memberships (GAFTA, AOAC, AACC, ASTA) and direct inquiry via the Agricultural Products Sales Promotion Department.

OMIC's competitive position rests on Foreign Official Laboratory designations from Japan's MHLW and Korea's MFDS, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, an extensive pesticide analysis menu, and a 70-year track record under the OMIC brand. The company holds no disclosed funding, no recorded M&A activity, no public listing, and operates without a software product, mobile app, or API; its commercial footprint is anchored to physical laboratory capacity rather than digital distribution.

Name

Overseas Merchandise Inspection

Legal name

Overseas Merchandise Inspection Co., Ltd.

Website

https://omicfoodsafety.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Overseas Merchandise Inspection (OMIC) is a Japanese food safety testing company founded in 1954 that operates laboratories in Japan, Thailand, the United States, and Australia, providing pesticide residue, mycotoxin, heavy metal, GMO, and nutritional analysis to agricultural exporters, grain traders, and food importers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Safety Testing & Laboratory Analysis Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory Compliance Testing (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen) (AFALADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Supplier Approval, Verification & Food Safety Risk Management (GFSI-aligned) (AFALADAH), Labeling & Claims Compliance Review (Nutrition, Allergen, Country-of-Origin) (AFALADAF)

Keywords

• Food safety testing
• Laboratory analysis services
• Pesticide residue testing
• Mycotoxin analysis
• GMO detection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: Fee-for-service laboratory analysis for food safety testing including pesticide residues, mycotoxins, heavy metals, GMO, and nutritional analysis. Pricing varies by sample type, analytical items, and applicable standards/regulations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Overseas Merchandise Inspection (OMIC) provides comprehensive food safety analytical testing services through overseas laboratories in Thailand, USA, and Australia. Core services include pesticide residue analysis (600+ compounds via GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS), mycotoxin analysis, heavy metals and minerals analysis (via ICP-MS), GMO testing (via ELISA and PCR), and nutritional analysis. The company primarily serves food exporters, importers, and grain trading companies requiring regulatory compliance certification for international agricultural trade, particularly exports to Japan.

Product overview

Overseas Merchandise Inspection (OMIC) provides food safety analytical testing services through a network of overseas laboratories. The company operates as a single integrated service offering comprised of core analysis products including pesticide residue analysis (600+ compounds via GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS), mycotoxin analysis, heavy metals and minerals analysis (via ICP-MS), GMO testing (via ELISA and PCR methods), and nutritional analysis services. Additional supplementary analysis services cover allergens, food additives, preservatives, coloring agents, contaminants, and radioactivity testing. OMIC maintains three overseas laboratory facilities: OMIC USA Inc. in Portland, Oregon (established 1993), the Bangkok Branch in Thailand (established 1954), and the Melbourne Laboratory in Australia. The laboratories provide international inspection services primarily focused on food safety for agricultural products exported to Japan and other markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pesticide Residue Analysis (残留農薬分析) Analysis of pesticide residues in grains, agricultural products, processed foods, and feed using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS equipment, covering over 600 pesticide compounds through multi-residue screening and individual analysis methods.
• Mycotoxin Analysis (カビ毒) Analysis of mycotoxins produced by fungi that contaminate stored grains and agricultural products, testing for compounds including aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, vomitoxin (DON), zearalenone, and T2/HT2 toxins.
• Heavy Metals & Minerals Analysis (重金属・ミネラル) Analysis of heavy metals and minerals using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) for quantification of trace inorganic elements including arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and essential minerals.
• GMO Testing (遺伝子組換え) Qualitative and quantitative GMO testing using ELISA and PCR methods for genetically modified crops including corn, soybean, cotton, canola, rice, papaya, potato, alfalfa, and flaxseed.
• Nutritional Analysis (食品成分分析) Comprehensive food component analysis including proteins, fats, fiber, sugars, and vitamins per nutritional labeling standards, serving commercial transactions and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Other Analysis Services (その他の分析) Additional testing services including allergens (peanut, milk, soy, gluten, egg), antioxidants, contaminants, food additives, preservatives, coloring agents, radioactivity testing, and quality parameters.
• OMIC USA Inc. - Portland Laboratory Services Overseas laboratory established in 1993, specializing in pesticide residue, mycotoxin, nutritional, and GMO analysis for grains and agricultural products, with the largest number of pesticide testing items in the region.
• OMIC Bangkok Branch Laboratory Services First overseas branch established in 1954, providing quality inspection of rice for Japan export and analytical services for Thailand's major agricultural exports including rice, tapioca, sugar, and aquaculture products with veterinary drug residue analysis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ pesticide compounds analysable through combined multi-component and individual analysis methods
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)coreOthersOMIC laboratories are officially registered as Foreign Official Laboratory, enabling issuance of analysis certificates recognized by Japanese regulatory authorities for food imports.
• Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)coreOthersOMIC USA is certified as Foreign Official Laboratory for GMO, pesticide residues, nutrition, nutritional supplements, and vitamins testing for Korean food imports.
• Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI)coreOthersBangkok laboratory holds TISI certification under Thailand's Ministry of Industry, providing accredited testing services for Thai agricultural exports.
• AOAC InternationalminorOthersMember of AOAC International (Association of Official Analytical Chemists), participating in analytical method development and validation across 90+ countries.
• GAFTA (The Grain & Feed Trade Association)minorOthersMember of GAFTA, established 1878, which protects and promotes the grain, pulse, rice, and feed industry for international trade.
• Non-GMO ProjectminorOthersOMIC USA is listed as an approved testing laboratory for Non-GMO Project verification, enabling customers to obtain verified non-GMO certification.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Intertek: Intertek provides agricultural and food testing services globally, with strong presence in Asia and Australasia. Its Agri-Trade and Food Services divisions offer pesticide residue, mycotoxin, and contaminant testing that overlaps with OMIC's service portfolio.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas operates a major Consumer Products and Agri-Food testing division covering agricultural commodities, food safety, and agricultural commodity inspection. Like SGS, it competes with OMIC for international grain and food trade certification, particularly with Japanese and Asian buyers.
• NSF International: NSF is a global public health and safety organization with significant food safety testing, certification, and auditing services. While broader in scope, its food testing labs in Asia and the US compete with OMIC for food exporter clients.
• TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD provides food, agricultural, and commodity testing services globally, including pesticide residue and contaminant analysis. Its Asia-Pacific food testing operations compete with OMIC for exporters targeting regulated markets.
• Eurofins Scientific: Eurofins is the global leader in food and feed testing with hundreds of accredited methods across pesticide residues, contaminants, GMO, and nutritional analysis. Its global lab network and aggressive M&A make it a primary competitive threat to mid-sized regional labs like OMIC.
• SGS: SGS is the world's largest testing, inspection, and certification company with a major Agricultural and Food business line covering pesticide residues, mycotoxins, GMO, and contaminants. It is the most direct global incumbent competing with OMIC for international food trade testing, particularly in Asia.

Direct peers

• Mérieux NutriSciences (Mérieux Group/Silliker): Mérieux NutriSciences is a global food testing and consulting network with ISO 17025 accredited labs in the US, Asia, and elsewhere. It offers pesticide residue, GMO, mycotoxin, and nutritional testing, making it a closely comparable specialized food safety peer to OMIC.
• Japan Food Research Laboratories (JFRL):
• ALS Limited:

Regional players

• AsureQuality: AsureQuality is a New Zealand government-owned food and primary industries testing company with Asia-Pacific operations. It provides similar agricultural and food safety testing services targeting Asian export markets, making it a regional peer to OMIC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance15 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Overseas Merchandise Inspection