A third party certification body to certify organic products

• approved as the registered certification body by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery in August 2000 to certify organic products under JAS organic regulations.

• accredited by IFAOM in August 2002 to certify crop production and processing operations according to IFOAM Basic Standard and Criteria.

Non profit, non-governmental organization approved as a legal entity by NPO Law implemented in 1999.

1-1 Who is an applicant for certification.

1. Producers�ifamily farmers , farmers group, farmers cooperative etc.�j

2. Processors

3. Sub-dividers (packers)

4. Importer

   • The above-mentioned organic operators of crop are regulated by organic JAS system.

5. Handlers such as traders, warehouseman, transporters who handle organic products can be certified by JONA Standard.

1-2 What kind of operators of organic products is to be certified.

1. Agricultural produce

2. Agricultural processed food

3. Livestock and feed

   • *The above 1, 2 and 3 are regulated by organic JAS system

4. Agricultural products excluded from organic JAS system such as sprout, cultivated- mushroom, alcohol beverage.

5. Aqua-cultural products.

   • *The above 4 and 5 can be certified by JONA's Standards.

1-3 Outline of Standards

1. Crops harvested on organic field in the third year can be certified as organic.
   Materials allowed to use are listed in the Standard.

   • GMO and its derivative and/or radiation is prohibited.

2. Processed products in which over 95% of ingredients are certified organic are used and processed organically can be certified as organic.

   • Co-mingling of the same kind of product used is prohibited.

   • GMO and its derivative and/or radiation is prohibited.

3. Labeling of organic JAS mark and JONA mark.

   • Organic agricultural products must be labeled with organic JAS mark after certification.

   • Products which contain certified organic ingredients less than 95 % can be labeled "made with organic products" but cannot be allowed to use organic JAS mark.

4. Labeling of JONA mark

   • Agricultural products if applied and certified as compliant with both organic JAS and JONA program can be affixed with JAS mark and JONA- IFOAM accreditation mark.

   • Organic product which is excluded from JAS organic regulations can be certified by JONA and be allowed to use JONA mark.

   • JONA will certify processed food which contains less than 95% but over 70% of certified organic products for ingredients and is processed organically. The product is allowed to be labeled mentioning "made with ingredients certified by JONA" on its package.

The Certification Program clarifies procedures from application to introduction of certified organic products into the market. The agreement for certification must be signed between the applicant and JONA about the contents of certification, confidentiality and violation. The summary from application to certification is as follows.

1. Applicant

   • An applicant for certification can be a member or a non member of JONA.

   • When an applicant becomes a member, the Standards and Certification Program will be sent for free.

   • The cost of certification for non-members is different from those for a member.

2. Submission of Application

   • There are five (5) types of Application forms: Production process management director, Processor, Sub-divider, Importer and Handler.

   • An applicant submits the completed forms and required attachments to JONA together with application fee of 20,000JPY.

   • A manufacturer of input material for agricultural use (such as a fertilizer manufacturer) can apply for confirmed materials for organic production.

3. Inspection and Certification

   • The Certification member reviews the submitted documents and decides acceptance of the application.

   • After approval of this first review, an inspector is nominated and dispatched for on-site inspection.

   • The inspector verifies accuracy of the information on the application by observing the organic fields, crops or processing factory or warehouse, and by hearing from applicant, manager and workers.

   • The inspector submits a copy of on-site inspection affidavit signed by the applicant and the inspection report to JONA.

   • The applicant has to pay inspection fee to the inspector through JONA.

   • The Certification Committee will decide approval or denial of the application.

4. Right and duties after approval

   • After approval of certification, JONA issues (a) Organic Certificate and (b) certificate Number.

   • JONA requests to the applicant (certified operator) for (c) notice of the day of first shipment and (d) submission of draft of labeling of organic products.

   • In case of pending the decision due to insufficiency of compliance, the applicant can submit improvement or consent of improving the given conditions. After approval of such improvement, the same procedure will be taken as that in case of approval.

   • In case of denial, the applicant can appeal re-investigation to JONA according to the JONA's Appeal Procedure.

• Qualification of JONA's member

  Farmers, aquatic producers, food processors, food handlers, scientists and consumers who are interested in the aims and policies of JONA and willing to cooperate are qualified to join JONA' s member.

• Annual due is 120,000JPY for corporation and 12,000JPY for family farmers.

• Scientists, laboratories and consumers can be qualified as associate members who have no voting right.

• The initiation fee to be a member is 50,000JPY for corporation and 5,000JPY for family farmers and consumers.

1. Annual General Members Meeting

   • It is held once a year to approve the previous year's performance and to decide the basic policies of activities and budget of JONA including election of directors and auditor and also revision of the Statute and of Organic Standards for the coming year.

2. Board of directors meeting

   • It will instruct and supervise the Management Office which manages daily operation.

3. Organization Chart

• One of the most experienced certification organization in Japan.

• The core members of JONA are those who have been engaging in organic agriculture, organic processing and/or marketing organic products for a long time.

• JONA has been paying much attention to Japanese food life and its agricultural products such as rice, soy bean, vegetables, green tea, Japanese noodles etc.

• Even though JONA believe the principle of "local production and local consumption" is the best way for people's health and ecology of the nature, JONA applies the program to imported organic product whether it is in compliance with organic JAS and/or JONA Standards.

• JONA has good relations with the trustworthy certification organizations in foreign countries.

• Due to implementation of organic JAS system, JONA has made the trust agreement with such foreign certification organizations in order for JONA to certify organic products under organic JAS system.

• The certification organizations that JONA have the agreement with are

  • In USA: WSDA, OTCO, CCOF

  • In South America: IBD in Brazil, OIA and Argencert in Argentina

  • In Australia: NASAA

  • In Europe: Naturland in Germany, IMO in Switzerland and Agricoop in Italy

  • In China: CGFDC, OFDC

There are basically two methods to approve organic products in Japan.

1. A Japanese or foreign certification organization approved and registered by MAFF can certify a foreign organic operator and register it at MAFF.

   • For inspection, a Japanese certification organization can utilize inspection report executed by a well established foreign certification in case that the Japanese and the foreign certification organizations have an agreement for this purpose.

2. Organic products certified in a country which has the state law equivalent to Organic JAS system can be exported with the relevant Government certificate and be marketed by a certified importer as organic in Japan.

Address: Takegashi bldg. 3F, 3-5-3, Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan 104-0031

Telephone: +81-3-3538-1851 (from foreign countries); 03-3538-1851 (in Japan)

Fax: +81-3-3538-1852 (from foreign countries); 03-3538-1852 (in Japan)

E-mail: Please use the mail form

Website: http//jona-japan.org/

• "Organic Standards" and "Certification Program of JONA" are available upon request to JONA (10,000JPY for each).

You can download both Organic JAS standard and criteria formatted PDF version at the following page of MAFF's website.

1. Standards

   1. JAS for Organic Agricultural Products[PDF] (Notification No. 1605 of 2005)
   2. JAS for Organic Processed Foods[PDF] (Notification No. 1606 of 2005)
   3. JAS for Organic Livestock Products[PDF] (Notification No.1608 of 2005)
   4. JAS for Organic Feeds[PDF] (Notification No.1607 of 2005)

2. Criteria

   1. Criteria for Production Process Manager

      • Technical Criteria for Certifying Production Process Managers of Organic Agricultural products and Organic Feeds[PDF] (Notification No. 1830 of 2005)
        
      • Technical Criteria of Certifying Production Process Managers of Organic Processed Foods and Organic Processed Feeds[PDF] (Notification No. 1831 of 2005)
        
      • Technical Criteria of Certifying Production Process Managers of Organic Livestock Products[PDF] (Notification No. 1832 of 2005)
        

   2. Criteria for Re-Packer

      • Technical Criteria for Certifying Re-Packers of Organic Agricultural Products, Organic Processed Foods, Organic Feeds and Organic Livestock Products[PDF] (Notification No. 1833 of 2005)

   3. Criteria for Importer

      • Technical Criteria for Certifying Importers Organic Agricultural Products and Organic Agricultural Processed Foods[PDF] (Notification No. 1834 of 2005)

You can also obtain some information about Organic JAS at MAFF's website (in English).