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Overview: Japan – Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement (JCOEA)

On September 16, 2014 Canada and Japan entered into an arrangement recognizing the national organic systems as equivalent. The arrangement applied to plants, including fungi, and processed foods of plant origin, such as organic vegetables and tea.

On July 16, 2020 the scope of the recognition arrangement was extended to include livestock products (limited to the JAS organic specified scope of livestock) and processed food products containing livestock ingredients (limited to the JAS organic specified scope of livestock).

On August 31, 2023 the scope of the recognition arrangement was extended to include organic alcohol beverages.

1 Japan's import requirements

1.1 Canadian organic products covered under JCOEA

Canada has signed an organic equivalence arrangement with Japan. This means that, as long as the terms of the arrangement are met, certified organic products in Japan or in Canada may be sold as organic in either country. The JCOEA's scope covers only CAN/CGSB 32.310 and CAN/CGSB 32.311. Organic products certified under CAN/CGSB 32.312 are excluded from the scope of the JCOEA.

Starting August 31, 2023, the following Canadian organic products are covered under the JCOEA and must bear the Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) seal to be sold in Japan:

  1. Plants, including fungi
  2. Processed foods of plant origin including alcoholic beverages
  3. Livestock products (limited to the JAS organic specified scope of livestock)
  4. Processed food products containing livestock ingredients (limited to the JAS organic specified scope of livestock)

These products may also use the Canada Organic logo in compliance with Part 13 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.

Canadian certified operators may apply the JAS logo to their plants, including fungi, plant-based processed products including alcoholic beverages, livestock products and processed food products containing livestock ingredients in one of two ways:

  1. Canadian certified operators who have a contract with a JAS-certified importer may apply the JAS logo to their products directly for sale in Japan. View a list of JAS-certified importers.
  2. Canadian certified operators who do not have a contract with a JAS-certified importer may not apply the JAS logo to their products prior to export. A JAS-certified importer must import the product, and that importer must apply the JAS logo to the product prior to sale within Japan

All Canada Organic Regime certified ingredients can be used in processed products no matter country of origin. Also, organic products which are imported into Canada from a third country with which Canada has an equivalency arrangement, and are then re-packed by a certified re-packer, can be exported under this recognition.

Canadian organic products exported to Japan under the JCOEA must be accompanied by an export certificate including the relevant information from Article 35 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Japanese Agricultural Standard.

The document has to be completed by the CFIA accredited Certification Body (CB) and has to accompany each shipment. A copy of the export certificate template is shared with the CFIA accredited CBs certifying organic products in Canada.

Export certificate template

Export Certificate for Organic Products - description follows
Description of export certificate template

The certificate includes the following form fields:

  1. File number
  2. Importing country
  3. Name of importer and address
  4. Name of exporter and address
  5. Date of issue
  6. Exporting country
  7. Certificate number
  8. Name of certification body and address
  9. Name of certified operator and address
  10. Name of product
  11. Lot number
  12. Unit weight / package specification
  13. Quantity
  14. Total net weight
  15. Additional remarks (if any)
  16. Name and signature of the CB authorized person

Standards: This certification is based on compliance with the CAN/CGSB 32.310 Organic Production Systems: General Principles and Management Standards and CAN/CGSB 32.311 Organic Production Systems: Permitted Substances Lists under Part 13 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.

Declaration: This certificate confirms that the products specified above have been certified by a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) accredited Certification Body and have been found to meet all applicable requirements of the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations and the terms of the Canada- Japan Organic Equivalency Arrangement.

Competent Authority:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
International Programs Directorate
Canada Organic Regime
1400 Merivale Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9

Instructions

1. File number

Reference number assigned to this document (to be filled by the issuing certification body), each unique identification number may be used only once and must be maintained in a control log (paper-based or electronic) that records each Export Certificate (EC) that the certification body creates, including all those issued, voided, or destroyed.

2. Importing country

Country the indicated organic product is destined for.

3. Name of importer and address

Importer or buyer in Japan and its mailing address.

4. Name of exporter and address

Canadian exporter or seller and its mailing address.

5. Date of issue

Issuance date of this document (to be filled by the issuing certification body). Dating format is YYYY/MM/DD, for example June 9, 2020 will be written as 2020/06/09.

6. Exporting country

Country the indicated organic agricultural product is originated from.

7. Certificate number

Reference number of the organic certificate issued by the certification body for the indicated organic agricultural product.

8. Name of certification body and address

Name and address of the certification body that certifies the indicated organic agricultural product.

9. Name of certified operator and address

Operator who handled organic food products at the final step before exporting, as indicated on the organic certificate.

10. Name of product

Generic name used to refer to the indicated product.

11. Lot number

Lot number assigned to the indicated product.

12. Unit weight/package specification

Minimum unit (weight) in which the product is sold at market. For example; organic tomato juice in units of 0.75 liter/bottles.

13. Quantity

Total units of the indicated product (100 units for example).

14. Total net weight

Total net weight (volume) of the indicated product, which will equate to Item 12 times Item 13. For example: 0.75 liter/bottle x 100 units (bottles) = 75L.

15. Additional remarks (if any)

Other comments related to the product, if any.

16. Name and signature of the CB authorized person

Require the signature or seal of the authorized individual from the certification body that issued this certificate. This individual is responsible for all aspects of the issuance of this certificate.

1.2 Canadian organic agricultural products outside the scope of the JCOEA

All certified products under the Canada Organic Regime for which there is no JAS organic standards and are not within the scope of this arrangement (e.g., honey, seaweed), will continue to have access to the Japanese market but will not bear the JAS logo.

All certified products under the Canada Organic Regime for which there is a JAS organic standards but are not within the scope of this arrangement (e.g., honey, feed), will continue to have access to the Japanese market but will not bear the JAS logo.

All certified products under the Canada Organic Regime must comply with Part 13 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, including labelling requirements for the use of the Canada Organic logo.

According to the JAS organic livestock requirements for livestock products and feed, it is permitted to use imported organic feed from countries having organic equivalency with Japan for production of organic livestock or of organic feed, only if any suitable organic feed can not be secured in Japan.

When such organic feed is exported to Japan from Canada, an export certificate issued by a CFIA accredited CB will be required.

1.3 Japan's labelling requirements

All organic products covered in this arrangement and imported into Japan must comply with the Japanese labelling requirements, the Food Labeling Act and other related registration.

From August 31, 2023, certified organic beverages (imported from Canada by the organic JAS certified importers under the equivalency arrangement) may be labelled as "Organic", affixed with the Organic JAS seals.

The labeling regulations for organic alcohol beverages will come into effect on October 1, 2025.

2 Canada's import requirements

2.1 Japanese organic products covered under JCOEA

In the letter from Canada to Japan, Canada has acknowledged that, pursuant to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act and the Safe Food For Canadians Act, plants, including fungi, processed foods of plant origin including alcoholic beverages, livestock products and processed food products containing are equivalent to the requirements of Part 13 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.

All JAS certified organic plants, including fungi, plant-based processed products, livestock products and processed food products containing livestock ingredients that have been produced in Japan or whose final processing or packaging occurs livestock ingredients produced and processed in accordance with the Japanese Organic System, within Japan and are certified by a Japanese Accredited Certification Body can be imported under this arrangement and are accepted as organic in Canada without additional certification.

All JAS certified ingredients can be used in processed products no matter the country of origin. Also, organic products which are imported by the certified importer from the third country whose organic system is regarded as equivalent as the Organic JAS System and are re-packed by a certified re-packer can be exported under this recognition.

Japanese organic products must be accompanied by an export certificate issued by a Japanese Registered Certification Body listed in the List of Accredited Certification Bodies – PDF (90 kb).

The JAS Accredited Certification Bodies have to complete the following export certificate.

2.2 Japanese organic agricultural products outside the scope of the JCOEA

Japanese organic products that are not covered by the JCOEA (for example, honey, aquaculture products, seaweed) can be imported and sold in Canada as organic as long as they are certified to the Canadian Organic Standard by a CFIA accredited Certification Body. The Japanese certification Bodies will continue to maintain their accreditation by the CFIA for these activities after the Arrangement is signed and implemented. Imported organic products must be accompanied by a valid organic certificate issued by a CFIA accredited Certification body.

2.3 Canada's labelling requirements

All Japanese organic products covered under this arrangement imported into Canada must meet Canadian labelling requirements and may bear the Canada Organic logo. A copy of the logo will have to be requested from the accredited Certification Body responsible for the certification.

All foods imported to Canada must meet the regulatory requirements under the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations and the Food and Drug Act and Regulations.

View Canadian labelling requirements.

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