Japanese Agricultural Organic Standard (JAS)

The Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for organic products is the official national certification framework administered by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). Established in 2000 and aligned with the Codex Alimentarius Commission's international guidelines for organically produced foods, the program sets legally recognized standards for how organic products must be grown, processed, labeled, and marketed in Japan. The scope of the standard has expanded over time and now covers organic plants, organic processed foods of plant origin, organic livestock products, organic processed foods of animal origin, and organic feeds.

Producers, processors, and manufacturers — whether based in Japan or overseas — must be certified by a MAFF-registered certifying body in order to use the organic JAS logo on their products. This logo signals to Japanese consumers that the product has been verified to meet all relevant JAS organic requirements. Without certification, products cannot legally be labeled as "organic" in Japan.

This certification is most relevant to agricultural producers, food manufacturers, and feed producers who want to sell organic-labeled goods in the Japanese market. It is also important for overseas exporters seeking to enter Japan, as foreign operators can obtain certification through MAFF-registered certifying bodies outside of Japan, provided their production or manufacturing processes comply with the applicable JAS organic standards.