Japanese Organic Industry

The Japanese organic industry is in a period of strategic growth and development. The Polan Organic Farming Association (POFA) works to unite and facilitate the development of the organic industry in Japan. The regulatory framework for organic production is established and the Japanese Agricultural Standard of Organic Agricultural Products provides the guidelines for organic production.

There are currently 52 Japanese certification organisations registered with the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (MAFF). The majority of these certification bodies are limited to specific prefectures (regions). The Japan Organic and Natural Food Association (JONA), one of the largest organic industry and certification organisations has approximately 400 producer/processor members.

The domestic production of certified organic products is limited predominantly to the horticultural and grain sectors. The majority of domestic organic products are marketed in the 'fresh form', however organic juices, frozen vegetable mixes and milled flour and bread mixes are marketed in significant volumes.

Domestic production of organic livestock products (meat, eggs & dairy products) is extremely limited. For example, to date there are only four certified organic dairies in Japan. The Japanese Organic Standard specifies that the majority of organic feed requirements must be sourced domestically, however the limited domestic availability and high cost of organic feed imports restricts the commercial viability of organic livestock production.

Horticulture and grain products certified organic by one of the registered certification organisations are eligible to carry the Japan Agricultural Standard Mark or 'JAS-Mark', which is MAFFs food labelling and quality assurance process and trademark. At the time of writing, MAFF did not formally recognise organic livestock production (and therefore prevents JAS-Mark labelling of organic livestock products). It is likely that MAFF will formally recognise (and consequently allow JAS-Mark labelling) of organic livestock products in the future.

This current lack of formal recognition does not prevent the importation of organic livestock products into Japan; it only prevents the JAS-Mark labelling of such products.

To date, only Australia and the European Union have 'equivalence' status with the Japan Organic Standard. During 2001, MAFF formally recognised Australia's National Organic Standard and five of the seven Australian certification organisations (including National Association of Sustainable Agriculture Australia, Biological Farmers of Australia, Organic Herb Growers of Australia, Organic Food Chain and the BioDynamic Research Institute). At present there are only six Foreign Registered Certifying Organisations (FRCO) registered with MAFF. Of the six, one is an Austrian organisation, with the remaining five being the stated Australian organisations; therefore providing Australian organic producers with a significant competitive advantage in the short to medium-term. MAFF recognition enables the 'JAS-Mark' labelling of approved organic imports.

A key pre-requisite for MAFF approval of organic certification processes is recognition and subsequent approval of the countries organic standard. Several European countries have organic standards and the United States' organic standard is in the process of finalisation, suggesting that more organic certification organisations will seek MAFF approval in the near future. If such organisations are approved, greater competition in the Japanese organic market will almost certainly result.