Japan GAP Foundation

About JGAP (Agricultural Products)

JGAP (Agricultural Products) is a set of standards for initiatives for sustainable farm management, including food safety, occupational safety, environmental protection, and human rights and welfare. It covers necessary and sufficient content for standard farms in Japan.

Scope of certification and items to be audited

JGAP (Agricultural Products) audit and certification is implemented in each one of three categories: fruits and vegetables, grains, and tea. The relationship between each category and processes is shown in the table below. Certification will not be granted for the process of handling agricultural products alone.
In addition, each category has a list of standard item names, and the certification covers the listed items.

Categories and processes for agricultural products

Production process		Fruits and Vegetables	Grains	Tea
Cultivation process	From sowing/planting up to harvesting	Cultivation	Cultivation	Cultivation
Harvesting process	Harvesting, trimming/ packing/ temporal storage on a farm, loading/ transportation/ delivery to a produce handling facility	Harvesting	Harvesting	Plucking
Produce handling process	Trimming/ sorting/ processing at a produce handling facility up to the delivery of products to a buyer	Produce handling	Produce handling	Produce handling
Produce handling process	Final processing at a produce handling facility up to the delivery of products to a buyer	N/A	Polishing	Processing

JGAP trainer (Agricultural Products)

A trainer is a person who supports and guides farms to help them acquire or retain certification.
After passing the JGAP trainer basic course and learning the basics of JGAP, people can register with the Japan GAP Foundation as trainers.

Further, a person can apply to become a JGAP senior trainer after they have provided guidance to multiple farms as a trainer and have knowledge of group audits and certification.
To remain qualified, trainers need to continue learning the latest JGAP information.

JGAP auditor (Agricultural Products)

An auditor is a person who conducts audits of farms or groups.
JGAP auditors are divided into the following three levels.

1. Senior auditor
   Qualified to audit a farm alone
   Qualified to conduct a group administration audit alone

2. Auditor
   Qualified to audit a farm alone
   Qualified to conduct a group administration audit in the presence of a senior auditor

3. Auditor candidate
   Qualified to audit a farm in the presence of a senior auditor or auditor

Requirements to be a JGAP auditor, such as educational background, career, and participation in training courses, are set in the General Regulations. For details, see Chapter 11 of the JGAP General Regulations.

How to display JGAP certification

Using a logo is a way of communicating that a farm is a JGAP certified farm or a product is from such a farm.
To use a logo, you need to apply for and receive approval from the Japan GAP Foundation.
The application procedure, conditions for use, fees, and other details are stipulated in the Detailed Rules on the Use of JGAP Official Logos.

JGAP certified farm logo

JGAP products used logo

Situations where the  logo is not used

It is possible to express the certification without using a  logo.
In this case, be careful not to mislead purchasers about the scope of the certification and certified items.