Japan’s first agricultural certification schemes featured on ITC Standards Map

Fruit and vegetable exporters aiming to enter the Japanese market now have a clearer path to do so, with the country’s certification schemes now available on the International Trade Center’s (ITC) Standards Map. 

The platform is the world’s largest online database of voluntary sustainability standards. With over 380 verified entries, the ITC helps users along the supply chain to search for sustainability requirements and certification schemes by product, sector, and country. 

The listing of two Japan Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Association certification schemes (JGAP Fruit and Vegetables and JGAP+SA Fruit and Vegetables) provides more visibility and insights to buyers, retailers, and supply-chain partners on sustainability, food safety, and farm-level work safety.

"Making sustainability standards more transparent helps producers and buyers make informed decisions, which helps to facilitate trade," said ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton. "Producers and exporters looking to export to Japan will now be better able to understand what it takes to access this high-end market."

Supporting agricultural exports to Japan

As Japan continues to prioritize the expansion of agricultural exports, overseas buyers are increasingly relying on certification programs to understand production practices and sustainability performance.

JGAP certification includes requirements relating to food safety, environmental conservation, occupational health and safety, human rights, and farm management. 

It also contains management measures designed to help producers comply with pesticide residue requirements in export destinations, supporting risk management and market access.

The listing is expected to make it easier for international buyers to understand JGAP's requirements and compare them with other sustainability standards during sourcing decisions and trade negotiations.

JGAP+SA is an add-on standard that incorporates requirements equivalent to the FSA Silver Level of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, strengthening the sustainability dimensions of the JGAP framework.

The Japan GAP Association is also working with ITC toward the future inclusion of JGAP Tea and JGAP Grains, further expanding access to information on standards covering products of growing export interest.

*All images are referential via Shutterstock. 

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