Japan Revises Beverage and Canned Livestock Product JAS Standard

In general, the revisions include the removal of requirements regarding foreign matter and update of food additive standards. There is a grace period for the implementation of requirements concerning food additive and protein content.

On October 20, 2017, Japan MAFF released announcements detailing the revision of JAS standard of several foods, including carbonated beverage, canned livestock products, and juice, etc. Requirements related to foreign matter were removed, and Codex standard replaced almost all of the previous food additive standards.

The revision will take effect on Nov 19, 2017, while the updated food additive requirement has a grace period until May 19, 2019. Requirements concerning protein content in soybean milk products and its testing method will not become mandatory until Mar 31, 2020.

Food category	Revision
carbonated beverage	Previous requirements of food additives are removed, and Codex standards are applied. Requirements related to foreign matter are deleted.
Soybean milk product	Previous requirements of food additives are removed, and Codex standards are applied. Requirements related to foreign matter are deleted. As for the testing method of protein content in soybean, the conversion ratio between nitrogen and protein was changed from 6.25 to 5.71 Protein contents in soybean milk, modified soybean milk and soybean beverage vary with the revision of conversion ratio.
canned livestock products	Previous requirements of food additives are removed, and Codex standards are applied. Requirements related to foreign matter are deleted.
carrot juice and blend carrot juice	Previous requirements of food additives are removed, and Codex standards are applied. Requirements related to foreign matter are deleted. Revision to the testing method of total Carotene
Pure apple juice	Requirements related to foreign matters are deleted.
Steamed and dried fish	Previous requirements of food additives are removed, and Codex standards are applied. Requirements related to foreign matters are deleted.