U.S., Japan expand organic trade opportunities

The United States and Japan announced the expansion of their organic equivalence arrangement to include livestock products. The arrangement goes into effect on July 16, 2020, and reduces costs and streamlines the process for anyone involved in the organic livestock supply chain by requiring only one organic certification.

“Opening new markets for America’s organic farmers and ranchers continues to be a priority for USDA,” said Greg Ibach, marketing and regulatory programs under secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in a press release. “Japan is already one of the top export markets for U.S. organic products. This agreement opens additional opportunities for everyone involved in the international supply chain for livestock, from farm to table.”

The Japan Agricultural Standards (JAS) now require organic livestock products imported from the United States to either be certified under the JAS or USDA organic regulations. This announcement marks the addition of livestock to the existing United States–Japan organic trade arrangement that has allowed plant-based products to be certified to either country’s organic standards since 2014.