Japan

A Green Purchasing Law which promotes the procurement of eco-friendly goods and services was enacted in May 2000 and came into effect in January 2001.  The Basic Policy for the Promotion of Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods and Services was revised in February 2006 and came into effect April 2006.

The revisions included legality as a ‘criterion for evaluation’ for purchases and sustainability as ‘factor for consideration’.  The policy is compulsory for central level ministries and agencies, Diet, courts and independent administrative institutions (list available for download). Local governments are encouraged to follow it. It applies to both wood and paper products.

The Japanese Forest Agency has developed a Guideline Concerning the Certification of Legality and Sustainability of Wood and Wood Products (published February 2006), which contains definitions of legality and sustainability.  It identifies three acceptable methods for verification: forest certification schemes, codes of conduct of Japanese wood industry associations or procedures set up by individual companies who are not members of wood industry associations.  Acceptable forest certification schemes include Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council (local scheme), CSA, FSC, LEI, MTCC, PEFC and SFI. The Japanese government has not carried out assessment of certification schemes. The Exploratory Committee for Measures against illegal logging are investigating options for acceptable legality verification e.g. BRIK, SKSHH, SGS TLVT and export declarations.

The policy is available for download from the Ministry of Environment website:

Policy for the Promotion of Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods and Services

Japan's Green Purchasing Policy - Tackling illegal logging

See also GOHO Wood Navi , commisioned by the Forestry Agency

Contact information

Mr. Kazuyuki Harada

Environment and Economy Division, Environment Policy Bureau

Ministry of the Environment

E-mail : gpl@env.go.jp

Mr. Koji Hattori

Global Environmental Issues Division, Global Environment Bureau

Ministry of the Environment

E-mail : SHINRIN-SABAKU@env.go.jp

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information on existing national timber procurement policies, we recommend checking with the national procurement policy contacts for the most up to date information.