JAS reviewed by Japanese MAFF

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recently announced that drafting activities for the review, establishment and revision of Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) and Quality Labelling Standards is to begin from June 15, 2001. JAS aim to guarantee officially the quality of food and forestry products sold in Japan. These are voluntary standards in the sense that their application is left to the discretion of producers. In contrast, Quality Labelling Standards are compulsory standards governing the product labelling of such information as ingredients and the producer's name and address. The purpose of Quality Labelling Standards is to provide accurate information to consumers on the quality of food products. The review of JAS and Quality Labelling Standards will concern pressed ham, mixed pressed ham, hams, bacon, sausage, mixed sausage, instant noodles, raw instant noodles, dried noodles, handmade somen and similar products, macaroni noodles. The review of JAS will be on canned agricultural products not included in the classified canned agricultural products, bottled agricultural products, aged ham products, aged bacon products, aged sausage products, fish ham, fish sausage. The review of Quality Labelling Standards will apply to fish ham and fish sausage. The establishment or revision of JAS and Quality Labelling Standards will apply to dressings, edible vinegar, and miso (soybean paste). The establishment of JAS will be on non-oil dressing, handmade somen and similar products. Source: Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry​