EBC Liquor Committee Meeting: December 3, 2025

Takeshi Watanabe from Pernod Ricard was introduced to the committee. He will eventually take over after Tomita-san.

The JWSIA met with the NTA and its new personnel last Friday (28 NOV). Mr. Nobuyaki Mikami is the new Director for the 酒類業振興・輸出促進室 (my translation: Alcohol Industry Promotion and Export Support Office). The person who will be more involved in practical terms regarding lot codes is Nemoto-san. Kishi-san of JWSIA raised the topic of lot codes, and there will be a meeting in a sub-committee/council (official name to be confirmed) on 08 DEC to discuss this issue. Meeting minutes from that session will be published on the NTA homepage.

The Tax Bureau of the MoF will ultimately also be involved. For this purpose, the NTA would like to receive further information on the background and purpose of the relevant legislation in the EU/UK/US, as well as any examples where lot codes have been used “live,” so to speak.

The EBC Liquor Committee will set up a meeting with the EU Delegation (and the UK Embassy?) once the minutes of the 08 DEC meeting have been made public, in order to brief them on the progress.

Regarding alcohol amount in grams, the Alcohol Federation will present something in March/April next year. The system will be based on self-regulation, and the transition period will most likely be five years.

Bruno Yvon will leave Japan in early 2026.