Overview of the Organic JAS System

Food Manufacture Affairs Division Food Industry Affairs Bureau

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Jan, 2016

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1. Definition of Organic Agriculture

The Act of promotion of organic agriculture (December 15, 2006, Act No.112) Article 2 In this Act, “Organic Agriculture” is the agriculture which,

basically, avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetic modification technology and minimizes environmental burden by agricultural production.

GUIDELINES FOR THE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, LABELLING AND MARKETING OF ORGANICALLY PRODUCED FOODS (Codex GL32-1999)

FOREWORD 6 “Organic” is a labelling term that denotes products that have been produced in accordance with organic production standards and certified by a duly constituted certification body or authority. Organic agriculture is based on minimizing the use of external inputs, avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

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2. Organic JAS System

Established in 2000. Based on the JAS Law, Registered Certification Bodies (RCB) checks whether production conforms with “organic JAS standard” and only certified operators are permitted to attach “Organic JAS logo” on their products.

1. Overview

As is the case in other countries, Organic JAS Standard conforms with Codex Organic Guideline.

○ Basically avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

○ Preparing soil by farmyard compost and growing on the farmland where unpermitted fertilizers and pesticides are not used at least two years before sowing

○ Can’t be used genetic modification technology ○ Permitted substances (fertilizers and pesticides) are limited

2. Organic JAS Standard

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2. Organic JAS System (Continued)

Can’t be labeled as “Organic XXXX” unless attached organic JAS logo.

3. Labeling Regulation

Livestock products, livestock processed products and feed can be labeled as organic without organic JAS logo

認定機関名

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FAMIC

Registered Certification Body

(RCB/ROCB)

Certified

Producers，etc

MAFF

Certification application

(Mill) Certification

Certification criteria

Grading (Attachment of

JAS mark)

Distribution of products with

JAS mark

Directions/requests

Report

Asse

ssm

en

t P

eriod

ic

su

rve

illa

nce

and

oth

er

mo

nito

ring

On-s

ite

inspe

ction

s

und

er

Min

istr

y’s

dire

ction

s a

nd

oth

er

gu

idan

ce

Assessment of ROCB

application for

registration in terms of

compliance with

registration criteria

Periodic surveillance of ROCB

(Confirming whether certification

services are properly conducted)

On-site

assessment

Verification

of RCB/ROCB

staff

performance

regarding

certification

Testing

of products

with JAS

mark

Suspected illegal labeling of JAS mark

Application for

Accreditation

Accreditation

Accreditation Criteria

3. Chart of Organic JAS System

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4. Situation of Organic JAS System

○ Publication of organic JAS system through website, brochure and seminar ○ Promoting Organic Equivalency arrangement to promote organic export

8,506

9,084

9,401 9,529

9,889

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

（ha）

56,164

57,342 56,608

58,444

61,291

50,000

52,000

54,000

56,000

58,000

60,000

62,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

（ ｔ）

（Fiscal year）

・Colombia ・EU（28 countries） ・Switzerland ・USA ・Canada

Countries which recognize Japan as

equivalent Production of organic

plant (Domestic) Area of Organic JAS certified farmland

By MAFF By MAFF

・EU（28 countries） ・USA ・Switzerland ・Australia ・Argentine ・New Zealand ・Canada

Countries that Japan recognized as equivalent

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５．About Organic Equivalency ○ Many countries regulate “Organic” labelling.

Products have to be certified under the organic certification system of each countries when these products are sold and labeled as organic.

○ If a company’s organic certification system is recognized as equivalent as the other country’s system, organic products of the country can be sold and labeled as organic as same as the organic products of the other country.

＜ Without Organic Equivalency ＞ Foreign Operators must be certified under the Japanese country’s system when they want to export their organic products to Japan country as organic.

Operator Export

Foreign country

Cost Time and Labor

Cost Time and Labor

Operator

Japan

＜ Under Organic Equivalency ＞ Foreign Operators can export their organic products to Japan as organic without the certification of foreign country when they are certified under the Foreign organic system.

Export Certified Importer

Japan

Recognized as Equivalent

(Example) Organic products export from Japan to foreign country

Operator

Certification under the JAS

Reducing Cost Time and Labor

Certification under the Foreign Country’s

System

Can

be

sold

as O

rganic

Cost Time and Labor

Certification under the Foreign Country’s

System

Foreign country

Can

be

sold

as O

rganic

Testing of products with JAS mark

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Product name: Organic Tomato Ketchup

Name of ingredients : Organic Tomato,

Organic sugar, Organic vinegar,

Organic Onion, Salt, Spice, Garlic, V.C

Quantity of contents : 400g

Best-before date : 06.12.31

Instruction for storage :

Keep away from direct sunlight,

Keep in a cool dark place

Producer,etc:

ＡＢＣ Corporation

2-1, Shintoshin, tyuou-ku ,

Saitama-city, Saitama

Checking of Labeling (Organic Processed foods)

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Checking of Labeling (Ｏrganic Crop)

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Analysis of pesticide residue (Organic Crop)

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Analysis of pesticide residue (Organic Crop)

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