January 30, 2026 EBC Food & Agriculture Committee Meeting: December 11, 2025
EBC Food & Agriculture Committee meeting 11 December 2025 – minutes
Present at the meeting were:
| Johann Pozzi, Chair | Natsuko Fujino, Nestle |
| Charles Robin, Lactalis | Neil Whitesmith, Ferrero |
| Claudine Girardo, French Embassy | Ayako Komine, Royal Canine |
| Gabor Seprenyi, GR Japan | Ewa Pilkiewicz, Polish Embassy |
| Hiro Ooka, Too Good To Go | Katrine Sasaki, UK Embassy |
| Hideki Katagiri, Nishimura & Asahi | Bjorn Kongstad, EBC |
Action points:
- Food contact
The committee briefly discussed food contact materials where the situation has become easier in Japan. There are now official English guidelines. Different standards and recycled materials are the main problems.
- Labelling – QR codes
While there is a discussion in Japan on QR codes, the focus is on supplementary as opposed to replacement. Current use among members is rather low for labelling purposes. - Shelf-life and food waste
MAFF has a working group on this, and there might be ways forward regarding food waste via the local governments such as the TMG
- Organic
It is possible to use the EU organic (leaf) logo in Japan. However, words indicating organic, such as organic, bio etc can only be used together with a JAS organic logo. If the exporter is ‘only’ EU organic certified, the importer must be JAS organic certified for the products to have JAS organic logo.
- Swine fever
Spain has experienced swine fever, and Japan has banned imports from Spain. There is currently no Spain – Japan agreement on regionalisation.
The next meeting is scheduled for 2 April.