The USDA has negotiated changes to the US-Japan Organic equivalency. Previously, organic alcohol was excluded from the equivalency and could be sent to Japan outside of equivalence. These products could not use the JAS organic seal.
Effective October 1, 2025, alcohol sold as “Organic” in Japan must be certified under the terms of the US-Japan Organic Equivalency and bear the JAS organic seal. The equivalency requires the following:
- Alcohol must be produced in the USA and/or have final processing and packaging occur in the USA.
- Alcohol labeled as “Organic” must have the JAS seal and meet other JAS label requirements.
- The JAS seal must be applied by either a USDA NOP-certified organic operation that has a JAS-labeling contract with a JAS-certified importer; or
- The JAS seal must be applied in Japan by a JAS-certified importer.
- Each shipment of exported organic alcohol must be accompanied by a TM-11 USDA Export Certificate, issued by a USDA-accredited certifier, and imported by a JAS-certified importer.
- For wines labeled as “Made with Organic Grapes” (added sulfites):
- The equivalence arrangement allows these wines to be exported to Japan as “Organic Wine”, use the JAS seal, and be accompanied by a TM-11. The “Made with Organic Grapes” claim must be removed in order to use the JAS seal.
- Wines labeled “Made with Organic Grapes” can also continue to be exported outside of the equivalency, without a TM-11, JAS seal, or JAS-certified importer. If labels for these wines include the CCOF logo, please contact us as you will need to switch to a new version of the CCOF logo that does not include the words “Certified Organic.” No other label changes are required to continue exporting outside of the equivalency.
Please refer to the USDA’s Japan Equivalency page and Japan FAQs for full details. Organic alcohol may now be imported into the USA from Japan, as well. CCOF is working to update our resources to reflect these changes.
If you export organic alcohol (including wine labeled “Made with Organic Grapes”) to Japan, contact our International Technical Specialist, Jessie Nichols at
If you wish to export organic alcohol to Japan under the equivalence arrangement, you will need to complete the updated Global Market Access program application.
If you wish to export wine labeled “Made with Organic Grapes” outside the equivalence arrangement, you do not need to enroll in the Global Market Access program for Japan but you may need to update your labels if they currently display the CCOF seal.
