Japan introduces certification marks for sustainable food businesses

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced on 13 May the creation of certification marks for food businesses under the Food System Law Plan Certification System. The marks allow certified businesses to highlight their sustainable efforts in public relations and sales activities.

The certification system operates under the Act on Promotion of Business Activities by Food Business Operators for Realising Sustainable Food Supply and Fair Trade of Food. It targets food manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and food service providers. The government established this law to build a sustainable supply structure and ensure fair trade amidst rising costs for raw materials, logistics, and labour.

The ministry categorises certified activities into four specific areas. They include establishing stable trade relations with farmers and fishers and rationalising distribution to improve logistics efficiency and reduce costs. Other categories focus on reducing environmental impact through greenhouse gas reduction and food waste prevention, as well as supporting consumer choice through transparent information sharing and awareness building.

As of April 2026, the ministry has certified 58 business activities. Marumasa Food Co., Ltd. is one of them, with plans to install biomass power generation equipment using vegetable scraps from its processing plant. The company aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from waste processing by over 90 per cent by the 2029 fiscal year.

Ajinomoto Frozen Foods Co., Inc. also received certification for its consumer support initiatives. The company plans to communicate its environmental efforts through owned media and educational partnerships. They seek to foster understanding of sustainable products and encourage consumption pattern changes.

Certified businesses have the benefit of accessing various support measures, including long-term, low-interest loans from the Japan Finance Corporation and debt guarantees from the Food System Organisation. The introduction of these marks provides a third-party verification mechanism that may help mitigate concerns regarding greenwashing.

The goal is to increase awareness of the system and provide a visual tool for companies to promote their sustainable activities, and is a good government-led signal to encourage more businsses to consider the certification for a green transformation.