Organic food market in Japan - statistics & facts
鈥淥rganic food鈥 is a trend word tied to healthy eating in Japan, which pushes the segment鈥檚 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 鈥淥rganic JAS鈥 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 鈥渙rganic鈥 as consumers struggle to understand the criteria and benefits of certified products.
