The JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standards) for “Chicken Eggs and Meat by Sustainable System” has been established. The requirements for certification are (1) selection of domestic chicken breeds, (2) feeding domestic feed rice, (3) recycling of chicken manure, and (4) compliance with animal welfare. One of the characteristics of meat distribution is that each part is shipped in larger lots (e.g., 2kg packs of thigh meat). Therefore, the JAS Label of “Sustainable Chicken Meat” will disappear if the retailer is not a certified subdivider. Regarding transaction and certification costs, expecting all backyards to be certified subdividers is unrealistic. Therefore, we propose (1) the introduction of a management certification system for subdividers, (2) integrated certification of meat production, meat processing, and final pack processing plants, and (3) the introduction of a management method that mimics an industrial waste electronic manifest.
