Organic food market in Japan - statistics & facts
“Organic food” is a trend word tied to healthy eating in Japan, which pushes the segment’s visibility in the food market while hampering segment growth due to a lack of understanding of terminology. Since the establishment of guidelines and the stricter enforcement of regulations by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (MAFF) in 2000, the scope of food products that can be marketed with the “Organic JAS” certification expanded from plant-derived foods to animal-derived products, carried by the strong organic processed food market. In 2022, alcoholic beverages were included in this definition, which opened new opportunities for domestic manufacturers. However, the strong impression of organic foods as part of the health foods market has obscured the meaning of “organic” as consumers struggle to understand the criteria and benefits of certified products.
