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On September 30, 2025, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) announced an amendment to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Act on Japanese Agricultural Standards. Under the amendment, effective October 1, 2025, organic alcoholic beverages certified by the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), Australia, and New Zealand are now recognized as equivalent under Japan's standards.
Key Changes
Regarding organic alcoholic beverages, the details of the mutual recognition agreed with the UK, US, Australia, and New Zealand are as follows.
Conuntry | Target | Production Standards |
UK | Organic alcoholic beverages that are ultimately produced, processed, and certified in the UK under the UK organic system. | In England, Scotland, and Wales, Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 applies, while in Northern Ireland, Regulation (EU) 2018/848 applies. |
US | Organic alcoholic beverages that are ultimately produced, processed, and certified in the US under the US organic system. | National Organic Program |
Australia | Organic alcoholic beverages that are ultimately produced, processed, and certified in the Australia under the Australia organic system. | National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce |
New Zealand | Organic alcoholic beverages that are ultimately produced, processed, and certified in the New Zealand under the New Zealand organic system. | Official Organic Assurance Programme |
Current Organic Equivalency Arrangements under Japan's Organic System
Under Japan's Organic System, organic agricultural products and organic processed products from countries whose organic system is recognized as equivalent to the Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) System may carry the JAS organic logo and be sold in Japan. For this purpose, a certificate issued by a relevant government agency or authorized organization in the country with recognized equivalency is required.
Once imported, a JAS-certified importer may attach the JAS logo to the imported organic products, such as mushrooms. This allows the products to be marketed in Japan under the designation "Organic" in accordance with Japanese standards.
1. Organic products covered under the scope of the Equivalency Arrangements with the US, Canada, Australia, and the European Union are as follows:
Organic products of plant origin
Organic livestock products
Organic processed foods, including alcoholic beverages
The member states of the European Union:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
2. Organic products covered under the scope of the Equivalency Arrangements with the UK and New Zealand are as follows:
Organic products of plant origin
Organic processed foods of plant origin, including alcohol beverages
3. Organic products covered under the scope of the Equivalency Arrangements with Switzerland is as follows:
Organic products of plant origin
Organic livestock products
Organic processed foods
4. Organic products covered under the scope of the Equivalency Arrangements with Argentina is as follows:
Organic products of plant origin
Organic processed foods of plant origin
5. Organic products covered under the scope of the Equivalency Arrangements with Taiwan,China is as follows:
Organic products of plant origin
Organic processed foods of plant origin, including alcohol beverages
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