Japan Issues Organic Processed Food Standards

On September 1, 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) issued the Japanese Agricultural Standards for Organic Processed Foods (hereinafter the Standards), involving the terms, definition and classification, production management requirements, labeling requirements, and a list of allowed additives added in the production process of organic processed food. The Standards will be officially implemented on October 1, 2022.

Main contents

• Production Management Requirements

In the manufacturing process of organic processed food, only salt, water, organic agricultural products, organic processed food, organic livestock products, and aquatic products that are not produced by radiation irradiation or DNA recombination technology can be used as raw materials. Besides, the additives (including processing aids) shall not exceed the scope of the 62 substances listed in Annex-I. The product's content of non-organic ingredients (including food additives, processing aids, etc.) shall not exceed 5%.

In addition, the medicine listed in Annex 2 can be used to control and prevent harmful animals and plants. However, manufacturers must remove these chemicals before the production of organic processed food starts.

• Labeling

The labeling methods for organic processed products name shall be described by one of the following examples:

a. Organic XX (e.g, algae)

b. XX(e.g, algae)(organic)

When the raw material is an organic product, the raw material label should also be marked with the word "organic". However, organic agricultural products during the conversion period* are not subject to this regulation.

*Organic agricultural products during the conversion period refers to agricultural products harvested between 6 months and 3 years, without using pesticides (no chemically synthesized pesticides used) or chemical fertilizers (organic fertilizers).