Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) regulations for organic products require that, starting from the 1st of April 2001 (extended to 2002), all products labelled as organic must be certified by a Japanese certification organization (RCO) or a foreign one (RFCO), registered at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and display the JAS logo and the name of the authorized certification body on the label.
ICEA was registered by the Japanese MAFF as Foreign Certification Organization (RFCO) on 7 July 2003.
Only registered bodies are entitled to authorize operators to display the JAS logo on their labels.
The JAS logo as a quality mark was introduced in order to protect the Japanese market and consumers.
This system has officially recognized the equivalence of European regulations, with the exception of a product allowed by
Regulation (EC) No. 834/07 for the foliar treatment of apple trees (Annex II B): calcium chloride.
In short, equivalence means that certification criteria and reference production/processing/packaging standards for operators wishing to export their organic products to Japan under the JAS mark, are the same as those adopted in the European Community according to Reg. (EC) No. 834/07.
However, JAS regulations show some differences.
For example, they do not cover alcoholic beverages and products of animal origin (beekeeping products included).
The norms require that only the processing (labelling) and marketing operations be controlled by a Japanese or foreign certification body recognized by MAFF.
However, in observance of the Community control regime, both producers and final sellers must ensure that also the suppliers’ ingredients and the sub-contractors’ raw materials are certified in accordance with Reg. (EC) No. 834/07.
Compared with Reg. (EC) No. 834/07, JAS labeling regulations present the following differences:
- If the finished product contains both organic and in-conversion ingredients, the label must clearly show which are organic and which are in conversion. Instead, the EU does not permit the use of in-conversion raw materials for the preparation of multi-ingredient products.
- The label must always display the JAS mark. If the JAS mark is not displayed, the label must not show statements as: organic, organic product, 100% organic, foreign organic, X % organic, or any other statement referring to the organic farming method.
- If the finished product does not have the JAS mark, but its ingredients do, it will be possible to write, for example, “salad containing vegetables from organic farming” or “ketchup made from organically grown tomatoes”.
On-line guide to JAS ICEA certification:
Forms and procedure:
- draft copy of the label displaying the JAS mark in colors chosen by the Licensee and, below, the name of the certification body ICEA.
As concerns size of logo and statements, see our JAS Manual
JAS Certification rules.
The labels may either be forwarded to ICEA in electronic format or via fax.
All the other documents must be mailed in original to:
ICEA/Ufficio Export
Via Nazario Sauro 2
40121 Bologna (Italy)
On receipt of the Application for Certification, the JAS certification process will start and will take about one month to be completed with the issuance of the compliance certificate.
During the certification process, one of our qualified Inspectors will visit the Applicant Licensee to verify compliance with JAS standards.
Special management requirements of a JAS Licensee
JAS Regulations require two persons in the firm, with the following clearly defined responsibilities: “Production Process” and “Product Grading”.
Only in the case of agricultural holdings may both tasks be fulfilled by the same person.
The task of the Officer in charge of Product Grading is to decide which batches or lots of products really comply with the organic farming method pursuant to JAS norms and which do not, for any reason whatsoever.
The presence of such an Officer is highly desirable also to meet the requirements of Reg. (EC) No. 834/07, since the last amendment to Annex III, which specifies the minimum control requisites, states that the operator is obliged to advise the certification body of any doubt which may arise concerning product compliance and suspend the marketing of the product until its compliance is ascertained.