Japan Organic Agricultural Product and Processed Food Certification

What is this programme?

JAS Organic is owned by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and covers organic agricultural products and processed foods.

Who is it for?

Producers and processors supplying the Japanese market under an organic claim.

Who issues the certificate?

The certificate is issued by an accredited independent certification body; MAFF itself does not certify individual operations.

What to verify before you accept it

Confirm the certification body's accreditation scope, and that the product meets the conditions for carrying the JAS mark on the Japanese market. The accrediting body's exact name and accreditation standard were not captured in this research round — an open question in the verification queue (see below).

What triggers an assessment?

• A product will be supplied to the Japanese market under an organic claim.
• A buyer or retailer requires the JAS mark.
• A role is held in organic agricultural production or processed-food manufacturing.

What does it not replace?

• It is not automatically equivalent to USDA Organic or the Canada Organic Regime; whether mutual recognition exists must be verified separately — it is not asserted here.
• It is not the same as GOTS; JAS Organic covers agricultural products and food, GOTS covers textiles.