A third party certification body to certify organic products approved as the registered certification body by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery in August 2000 to certify organic products under JAS organic regulations.
accredited by IFAOM in August 2002 to certify crop production and processing operations according to IFOAM Basic Standard and Criteria.
Non profit, non-governmental organization approved as a legal entity by NPO Law implemented in 1999.

How to get Certification

The Certification Program clarifies procedures from application to introduction of certified organic products into the market. The agreement for certification must be signed between the applicant and JONA about the contents of certification, confidentiality and violation.
The summary from application to certification is as follows.
1.Applicant
a)An applicant for certification can be a member or a non member of JONA.
b)When an applicant becomes a member, the Standards and Certification Program will be sent for free.
c)The cost of certification for non-members is different from those for a member.
2.Submission of Application
a)There are five (5) types of Application forms: Production process management director, Processor, Sub-divider, Importer and Handler.
b)An applicant submits the completed forms and required attachments to JONA together with application fee of \20,000.
c)A manufacturer of input material for agricultural use (such as a fertilizer manufacturer) can apply for confirmed materials for organic
production.
3.Inspection and Certification
a)The Certification member reviews the submitted documents and decides acceptance of the application.
b)After approval of this first review, an inspector is nominated and dispatched for on-site inspection.
c)The inspector verifies accuracy of the information on the application by observing the organic fields, crops or processing factory or warehouse, and by hearing from applicant, manager and workers.
d)The inspector submits a copy of on-site inspection affidavit signed by the applicant and the inspection report to JONA.
e)The applicant has to pay inspection fee to the inspector through JONA.
f)The Certification Committee will decide approval or denial of the application.
4.Right and duties after approval
a)After approval of certification, JONA issues (a) Organic Certificate and (b) certificate Number.
b)JONA requests to the applicant (certified operator) for (c) notice of the day of first shipment and (d) submission of draft of labeling of organic products.
c)In case of pending the decision due to insufficiency of compliance, the applicant can submit improvement or consent of improving the given conditions. After approval of such improvement, the same procedure will be taken as that in case of approval.
d)In case of denial, the applicant can appeal re-investigation to JONA according to the JONA's Appeal Procedure. .

How organic products produced in foreign countries to be marketed in Japan

There are basically two methods to approve organic products in Japan.
a)A Japanese or foreign certification organization approved and registered by MAFF can certify a foreign organic operator and register it at MAFF.
For inspection, a Japanese certification organization can utilize inspection report executed by a well established foreign certification in case that the Japanese and the foreign certification organizations have an agreement for this purpose.
b)Organic products certified in a country which has the state law equivalent to Organic JAS system can be exported with the relevant Government certificate and be marketed by a certified importer as organic in Japan.

"Xiaomuren" brand snack food series han enjoyed good reputaition from domestic and abroad consumers. The products are made of organic materials certified by JONA from Janpan.