US, Japan Organic Food Trade Agreement

Recently a trade agreement between U.S and Japan was streamlined. The agreement announced that organic products licensed in Japan or the U.S. may be sold as organic in either country, starting Jan. 1, 2014. Before the agreement was certified, organic farmers in both countries wanting to sell products   in either country had to obtain separate certifications to meet each country’s organic standards, typically requiring two sets of fees, inspections and paperwork. By this agreement US farmers can easily access Asia’s largest organic market while in return enhancing the opportunities for trade in Asia. Both the countries have carried out on-site inspections to make sure that their programs’ regulations, quality control measures, certification requirements and labelling practices were compatible. The terms of partnership have also been verified and met.

Trade strengthens the market and allows countries to simplify import/export between them.