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Japan
Organic and Natural Foods Assocation - Japan
The Japan Organic & Natural Foods Association (JONA) is a
non-governmental, non-profit organization legally registered at Tokyo
Metropolis Legal Affairs Office since 1999 although their history goes back
to 1991. The members of JONA consist of farmers, food processors, handlers
and other interested parties.
The main aims of the organization are to maintain and
improve the environment by promoting organic agriculture, organic
aquaculture and organic processed foods through inspection and certification
of these products.
In 1993, JONA was reorganized in order to become an
organic certification organization that can be trusted not only in Japan but
also internationally.
Since then, JONA has been a member of IFOAM. Their own
organic standards and operating manual were completed and first certificates
were awarded during 1994. A major revision of organic standards in 1997 was
undertaken with livestock standards being added in 1998 and beekeeping and
aquaculture in 1999. In 2002, JONA were granted IFOAM accreditation
The basic policies and the nomination of a Board of
Directors are decided at the General Meeting. The Board appoints a Standards
Committee and Certification Committee to maintain relevant standards and
oversee the certification process. Most inspectors are contracted, though
some are staff members. Appeals are handled by a Special Investigations
Committee.
Based in central Tokyo, JONA is the largest certification
body in Japan and is run by 15 staff members. Sitting in one of the worlds
main markets for organic produce, JONA are understandably very much involved
in the import of organic products from around the world.
JONA operators of course produce organic rice, but also
vegetables, soy bean, tea and many processed products most of which are
directed at an ever discerning domestic market.
The IFOAM Accredited programme of JONA is the JONA logo
programme (as opposed to their JAS level programme) and covers crops, wild
harvest and processing and handling. In 2004 JONA were also granted ISOIEC65
accreditation by the IOAS.
Mr Kenji Matsumoto - President
Mr Tsutomu Takahashi - Certification Coordinator |
