What JAS organic certifies
JAS is the Japanese Agricultural Standard, run by the Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF). Organic JAS certifies three things in a chain: the field (no synthetic fertiliser or pesticide for at least two years before the first certified harvest, and buffers from neighbouring fields), the processor (the tencha factory and the mill, with separation from conventional leaf and records for every lot), and the packer. Each link is inspected by a MAFF-registered certification body, and only a product that passed all three can carry the green JAS leaf mark.
That chain is why organic matcha is scarcer and dearer than organic sencha. A field can be organic, but if the mill also grinds conventional tencha and cannot show separation, the matcha loses the mark. Organic tencha yields are also lower, because shading stresses the plant and organic fertiliser releases nitrogen slowly. Expect a 10 to 25 percent premium at wholesale.
USDA organic and the equivalence
Since 2014 the United States and Japan have an organic equivalence arrangement. In practice: a plant product certified organic under JAS can be sold and labelled as USDA organic in the US, as long as it ships with the organic certificate issued by the Japanese certifier and, since March 2024, an NOP Import Certificate generated in the USDA's Organic Integrity Database by the exporter's certifier for each shipment. The US importer must also be certified or exempt under the National Organic Program's strengthened rules. Our organic lot, Jun, is certified under both JAS and USDA at the mill, so it can be labelled either way without re-certification.
The EU and the UK
The EU has recognised Japanese JAS organic plant products as equivalent for many years. The legal basis is being renewed under the EU's 2018 organic regulation, which is replacing the old equivalence list with country-by-country agreements, so the status is worth checking with your importer at the time of shipment. Every organic consignment into the EU needs a Certificate of Inspection (COI) raised in TRACES by the exporter's certifier before it lands, and the EU importer must be registered with an organic control body. The UK runs a parallel system with its own COI. We raise the COI for you when we ship organic lots to Europe.
The paperwork an importer needs
| Market | Certificate accepted | Per-shipment document | Importer requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | JAS organic (equivalence) or USDA NOP | NOP Import Certificate (since March 2024) | Certified or exempt handler under NOP |
| European Union | JAS organic plant products (equivalence, status being renewed) | Certificate of Inspection in TRACES | Registered with an organic control body |
| United Kingdom | As EU, under UK retained rules | UK Certificate of Inspection | Registered with a UK control body |
| Canada | JAS via the Canada–Japan arrangement | Organic certificate with shipment | Licensed under Safe Food for Canadians |
| Australia | No general equivalence; certificate accepted for import, labelling under domestic rules | Organic certificate with shipment | Check with your certifier for retail claims |
What organic does not tell you
Organic certifies how the field was farmed and how the lot was handled. It says nothing about harvest, shading, cultivar or mill, which are the four things that decide the cup. There is superb organic matcha and there is organic matcha that is second-harvest, briefly shaded and pale. There is also a lot of excellent conventional matcha from small farms that cannot afford the three-year conversion and the annual inspection. If your customers or your retailer require the mark, buy organic and ask the same four questions you would of any lot. If they do not, taste first. Our organic page lists what we have, and samples settle it either way.
Questions buyers ask
Is JAS organic the same as USDA organic?
They are separate standards with an equivalence arrangement: a JAS-certified plant product can be sold as USDA organic in the US if it ships with the JAS certificate and, since March 2024, an NOP Import Certificate for the shipment.
Can I sell Japanese organic matcha as organic in the EU?
Yes, with a Certificate of Inspection raised in TRACES before arrival and an importer registered with an organic control body. The EU–Japan equivalence is being renewed under the 2018 organic regulation, so check the current status with your importer.
Why is organic matcha more expensive?
Lower yields (shading plus slow-release organic fertiliser), a three-year field conversion, and annual inspection of the field, the factory and the mill. Expect a 10–25 percent premium.
Does organic matcha taste better?
Not by itself. Organic certifies farming and handling, not harvest, shading, cultivar or mill. Judge the cup on those four.
