Vinegar Labeling Standards Amended to Include Brewed Vinegar Mixing Ratios

The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) and the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) have approved partial amendments to the Fair Competition Code Concerning the Labeling of Vinegar (JFTC Notification No. 12 of 1970) and announced them as JFTC Notification No. 8 in the Official Gazette (Extra Edition) dated October 20, 2026. According to the supplementary provisions, the amendments took effect on the same day as the notification of approval by both agencies. These changes apply to businesses involved in the manufacture and sale of vinegar and similar products, altering the labeling rules for member businesses of the National Vinegar Fair Trade Council.

The notification serves to publicize the amendment of the Fair Competition Code based on Article 36, Paragraph 1 of the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations (Act No. 134 of 1962), in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4 of the same Article. The amendment was requested by the National Vinegar Fair Trade Council (Chairperson: Yuko Nakano) and was approved by the Japan Fair Trade Commission on September 15, 2026. The notification is signed jointly by Eiji Chaya, Chairperson of the Japan Fair Trade Commission, and Natsuko Horii, Commissioner of the Consumer Affairs Agency.

As the reason for approval, the notification explicitly states, “As a result of reviewing the contents of the partial amendment to the Code, it is recognized that said partial amendment conforms to the approval requirements set forth in each item of Article 31, Paragraph 2 of the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations.” The types of businesses covered by the Code are defined as “manufacture and sale of vinegar, etc.”

Mandatory Labeling of Mixing Ratios for Synthetic Vinegar Containing Brewed Vinegar

The core of the amendment is the establishment of a new Article 5, “Labeling Standards for the Mixing Ratio of Brewed Vinegar.” In addition to the labeling items specified in Article 3, businesses must indicate the mixing ratio of brewed vinegar for synthetic vinegar containing brewed vinegar, as prescribed in the enforcement regulations.

Additionally, the “Labeling Standards for Specific Matters” from the former Article 5 have been moved to Article 6. The terms and items to be displayed during transactions now include the “mixing ratio of brewed vinegar” and the “dilution ratio” for high-acidity vinegar intended for use after dilution. This is interpreted as an intent to enable consumers to distinguish the composition of synthetic vinegar versus brewed vinegar.

Addition of Labeling Items and Reorganization of Exemptions for Powdered Products

The following items have been added to the “Necessary Labeling Items” in Article 3:

• Mixing ratio of brewed vinegar (limited to synthetic vinegar containing brewed vinegar)
• Dilution ratio (limited to products intended for use after dilution)
• Location of the manufacturing or processing plant, and the name of the manufacturer or processor (for powdered brewed vinegar and powdered synthetic vinegar, the exemption clause was changed from “excluding Item 6” to “excluding Items 7 and 8”)

Labeling shall continue to be required to be carried out collectively and clearly in Japanese in a conspicuous location, as prescribed by the Enforcement Regulations.

Renumbering of Articles and Improvement of the Council’s Investigation and Decision Procedures

With the insertion of new clauses, the article numbers of the Regulations have been shifted downward overall. The procedural rules handled by the Japan Vinegar Fair Trade Council have also been reorganized.

• Investigation of Violations: Former Article 10 becomes Article 11; in cases where a violation of the provisions from Article 3 to Article 6 is suspected, relevant parties shall be summoned to conduct interviews and hear opinions from witnesses.
• Decisions on Violations: Former Article 11 becomes Article 12; when taking measures other than a warning, a draft decision shall be prepared and sent to the business operator, who may file a written objection within ten days from the date of shipment.
• Enforcement Regulations: Former Article 12 becomes Article 13.

Required Actions for Member Businesses

Since these changes take effect upon promulgation, member businesses of the Japan Vinegar Fair Trade Council must promptly bring the labeling of containers and packaging for synthetic vinegar (containing blended brewed vinegar) and high-acidity vinegar used via dilution into compliance with the new standards. Specific labeling methods are left to the Enforcement Regulations, and businesses will be required to respond in accordance with the Council’s operations. The optimization of labeling extends the purpose of the Regulations—to ensure voluntary and rational choices by general consumers and fair competition among businesses—to the field of synthetic vinegar.

Source: Official Gazette (Extra Edition) Tuesday, October 20, Reiwa 8, Cabinet Office/Consumer Affairs Agency “Fair Trade Commission Notification No. 8”, Matter regarding the certification of partial amendments to the Fair Competition Code for the Labeling of Vinegar (Fair Trade Commission Notification No. 12 of 1970) (FTC/Consumer Affairs Agency 8).