DAFF - MAA 2025-05: Japan: Organics: Equivalence agreement with Japan now includes alcoholic beverages

Date of issue: 1 October 2025 
Date of effect: Immediate
Reference number: MAA 2025-05

Attention

• Industry bodies – Australian Organic Limited, Organic Operators Australia
• Organic Approved Certifying Bodies (ACBs) – ACO Certification Ltd, Bio-Dynamic Research Institute, Organic Food Chain Pty Ltd, Southern Cross Certified Australia Pty Ltd
• Export establishments
• Exporters
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Central and regional offices

Purpose

This Market Access Advice (MAA) is to notify exporters, ACBs and other stakeholders that the scope of the organics equivalence agreement between Australia and Japan has been broadened to include alcoholic beverages, effective from 1 October 2025.

Key points

The scope of the equivalence agreement is now as follows:

• organic plant and organic plant products,
• organic livestock products,
• organic processed food, and
• organic alcoholic beverages.

The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) will be updated to reflect this market access advice.

Further information

Please contact OrganicExports@aff.gov.au or ExportStandards@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.