International Horticultural Expo 2027,
Yokohama, Japan
CODE OF SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT

January 2024
Japan Association for the International Horticultural
Expo 2027, Yokohama

Table of Contents
Terminology.................................................................................................................................................................1
1 Overview ................................................................................................................................................................3
2 Scope .......................................................................................................................................................................4
3 Sustainability Standards (Common Standards) .................................................................................................5
3.1

General provisions........................................................................................................................................ 5

3.2

The environment .......................................................................................................................................... 6

3.3

Human rights ................................................................................................................................................ 8

3.4

Labour ......................................................................................................................................................... 10

3.5

The economy ............................................................................................................................................... 12

4 Standards by item................................................................................................................................................14
5 How to ensure sustainable procurement ...........................................................................................................15
6 Grievance Mechanism.........................................................................................................................................18

Appendix: Standards by item ..................................................................................................................................19
1

Wood materials ............................................................................................................................................. 19

2Paper materials ............................................................................................................................................. 22

3

Agricultural products ................................................................................................................................... 25

4

Livestock products ........................................................................................................................................ 28

5

Fishery products............................................................................................................................................ 31

6

Palm oil .......................................................................................................................................................... 36

7

Plants .............................................................................................................................................................. 40

Main references .........................................................................................................................................................43
Preparation process ..................................................................................................................................................44
Revisions ....................................................................................................................................................................44

Terminology
Term
Goods, services, and works

Licensed merchandise

Definition
Works, construction and auxiliary materials, equipment, fixtures, supplies and avariety of services (including services provided electromagnetically)
Items which licensees manufacture, sell, or otherwise handle based on license
agreements with the Association
The government of Japan; the Association; foreign governments and internationalorganisations, and other institutions exhibiting in EXPO 2027 YOKOHAMA
JAPAN (Official Participants); and enterprises and local governments (Non-

Exhibitors, etc.

official Participants); business operators that have signed the Commercial
Participation Contract with the Association for their participation throughCommercial Activities (Concessionaires), other agents that participate in othercapacities as above (Event Participants and Public Relations Participants, etc.)

Suppliers

Business operators contracted by the Association to provide goods, services, andworks (primary suppliers)
Suppliers of goods, services and works procured by the Association, licensees

Suppliers, etc.

licenced by the Association for licensed merchandise for EXPO 2027
YOKOHAMA JAPAN, and Exhibitors in the EXPO

Licensees

Business operators engaging in the manufacture, sales, etc. of official licensed
merchandise that carries the logo, etc. of the International Horticultural Exhibition
Business operators (e.g., secondary/tertiary suppliers) that carry out theSupply chain

manufacture, distribution, and other supply stages, including the extraction of raw
materials, before the goods are delivered to suppliers, licensees, or Exhibitors

Sponsors

Enterprises that provide know-how, goods/services, or funding required for theoperation of the International Horticultural Exhibition
The process involving the extraction of raw materials, manufacturing, production,
construction, distribution, and other operations, whether they take place in Japan orotherwise, involved before the delivery (including by electromagnetic means) ofgoods or provision of services to the Association, the sales of licensed

Manufacture, distribution,

merchandise, or the delivery of goods or provision of services to the Exhibitors,

and other processes

etc. (note that, while it would be important to encompass the entire lifecycle (or avalue chain) of products from the sustainability perspective, the Procurement Codeshall limit its scope, to avoid ambiguity, to the point where goods and services aredelivered to the Association, licensed merchandise is sold, or goods and services
are delivered to the Exhibitors, etc.)

1

Term

Definition
The entire lifecycle of products or services, ranging from the extraction of raw

Value chainmaterials, manufacturing, distribution, storage, and provision of services and useof products, including their development stages, to the disposal, recycling, andother end stages

Inclusion

Referring to the state in which diverse people are accepted by others without being
subjected to discrimination or harassment
A method of offsetting the effects of CO2 footprint by means of carbon credits.
The carbon credit is the emission-equivalent credit in relation to projects such as
introducing solar generation systems and managing forests, approved through theOffset scheme

MRV (monitoring, reporting, and verification) process so that it can be traded
between national governments, private businesses, and other agents. Its value isdetermined by subtracting the amount of the project’s actual footprint (project
footprint) from the estimate of the emissions based on the non-existence of the
project, prospective carbon absorption and removal etc. (baseline footprint)
A perpetual process to assess corporations in terms of the negative impacts ofpossible illegal acts, human rights violations, environmental pollution, and other

Due diligencefactors through their business operations and through business with supply chains,implement measures based on the assessment results, and review the effectivenessof the measures
Realization of women’s potential to change their social, economic, and political

Women’s empowerment

standing by being autonomous agents who have the rights and abilities to direct
their personal and social lives, and by participating in decision-making processes
at various levels
Sexual and reproductive health and rights. The rights encompass the right to freely

Reproductive health anddetermine the number of children to have, the frequency of pregnancy, and therightstiming of childbirth, and the basic rights to have access to information and means
to realize theseA state in which a balanced distribution of time is achieved between personal andprofessional life. In Japan, following the enactment of the Act on the Promotion ofWork-life balance

Female Participation and Career Advancement in the Workplace (Act No. 64 of
2015), the national government, etc. promote the procurement practice offavouring suppliers that promote a better work-life balance2

1

Overview

The Japan Association for the International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama (hereinafter referred to as “theAssociation”) shall pursue a wide range of initiatives for sustainability, encompassing the environmental, social,and economic areas through the organisation of the International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama, Japan(hereinafter referred to as “EXPO 2027 YOKOHAMA JAPAN”) to be held under the theme of “Scenery of the
Future for Happiness.”
To this end, the Association formulates the Code of Sustainable Procurement (hereinafter referred to as “theProcurement Code”) with the aim of pursuing environmental, social and economical sustainability, in addition toeconomic rationality, through its procurement of goods, services, and works necessary to organise the EXPO in its
preparation and operational phases.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development set
forth 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets linked to them. One of the goals is to “ensure sustainableconsumption and production patterns.” The commitment to sustainability-oriented procurement at the EXPO willlead to a legacy of transforming consumption and production patterns in society at large, including the introduction
and promotion of sustainable practices in the environmental, social, and economic domains.
This Procurement Code shall provide for the standards and operational methods necessary in order to realise thebest practicable procurement, which respects sustainability-related international agreements and codes of conduct(including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (including
ILO Core Labour Standards), U.N. Global Compact, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, UN Guiding
Principles on Business and Human Rights) and also takes into consideration the contribution towards compliancewith laws and regulations, prevention of such environmental issues as loss of biodiversity and climate change,
prevention of human rights and labour issues, promotion of fair business practices, revitalization of regional
economies and other issues.
The Association shall also encourage compliance with this Procurement Code as a concerted effort amongsuppliers, licensees, Exhibitors, and other stakeholders, including supply chains, while promoting an expansion of
initiatives similar to this Procurement Code to achieve a society in which the sustainable consumption andproduction patterns envisioned by the SDGs are attained and firmly establish a sustainability-oriented mindset inwider society, including supply chains, as a legacy of the EXPO.

3

2

Scope

This Procurement Code applies to everything that is procured by the Association, including goods, services, andworks, as well as licensed merchandise (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Procured Goods, etc.”). It also
includes procurement from Sponsors.
The Procurement Code also applies to the Procured Goods, etc. which the Exhibitors procure in relation to EXPO
2027 YOKOHAMA JAPAN.
The Association shall request Suppliers, etc. and other parties to comply with the Procurement Code as they engage
in the manufacture and distribution of Procured goods, etc, the provision of services, and the execution of works.
The Association shall require these Suppliers, etc. and other parties to encourage their respective supply chains toalso comply with the Procurement Code, including by making appropriate arrangement in their contracts with thesebusiness operators.

4

3

Sustainability Standards (Common Standards)

3.1

General provisions

3.1.1 Compliance with laws and regulations
Suppliers of goods, services, and works the Association procures, licensees of licensed merchandise for EXPO
2027 YOKOHAMA JAPAN under a license agreement with the Association, and Exhibitors in the EXPO
(hereinafter collectively referred to as “Suppliers etc.”) shall comply with laws and regulations applicable in Japanor other countries, and respect international statutory requirements, when engaging in the manufacture, distribution,and other processes of Procured Goods etc. Where there exists a conflict between international statutory
requirements and local laws and regulations, they shall pursue a way in which the local laws and regulations arecomplied with while the international statutory requirements are respected.
3.1.2 Prohibition of retaliatory action
Suppliers, etc. shall not take retaliatory action against whistleblowers for making a report concerning their acts ofviolation of laws and regulations, discrimination, or noncompliance with the Procurement Code to regulatory
agencies or contacts of the Association set forth in 6 below.

5

3.2

The environment

In view of the ongoing progress made in the development of laws, policies, and guidelines for the environment inJapan, the Association shall, for its procurement, require in principle that Suppliers, etc. conform to the Act on
Promotion of Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods and Services by the State and Other Entities (Act No. 100 of
2000), and that goods, services, and works meet the standards set forth in policies, etc. of the government of Japanfor reducing environmental impact (including the Basic Policy for the Promotion of Procurement of Eco-friendly
Goods and Services).
The Code also requires that, apart from the performance of goods, services, and works themselves, arrangements
shall also be made throughout the lifecycle of the entire value chain, including in manufacture, distribution, andother processes, to lessen their environmental impact.
3.2.1 Enhancement of energy efficiency
Suppliers, etc. should make efforts to reduce their energy consumption throughout the manufacture, distribution,and other processes of the Procured Goods, etc. This includes, for example, the use of low-carbon materials, theinstallation of energy-efficient equipment and logistics systems, insulation of buildings, and introduction of energy
management systems.
3.2.2 Utilisation of renewable energy
Suppliers, etc. should make efforts to utilise energy sources that have lower carbon footprints for their manufacture,
distribution, and other processes for the Procured Goods, etc. Examples include electric power and heat derived
from renewable energy. In order to achieve carbon neutrality on site during the period of the EXPO, Exhibitors
should use carbon-neutral options when they use electricity, LNG, or LPG where possible at the site.
3.2.3 Employment of other methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Suppliers, etc. should make efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions throughout the manufacture,
distribution, and other processes of the Procured Goods, etc. This includes, for example, the adoption of alternativechillers using CFC-free coolants (natural coolants) and the introduction of carbon-offset schemes.
3.2.4 Promotion of 3R (Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling) + Renewable initiatives and circular economy
Concerning the Procured Goods, etc., Suppliers, etc. should make efforts to reduce waste by efficiently using raw
materials and maximizing the products’ lives while ensuring that their products are designed for easy
reusing/recycling after the EXPO by adopting generic components and designing structures that are easy todismantle, detach, or disintegrate. Suppliers, etc. should use recycled products and raw materials containing
recycled resources for their manufacture, distribution, and other processes of the Procured Goods, etc. They should
also endeavour to make best use of the resources they consume even by recovering energy from nonreusable/unrecyclable waste. Suppliers, etc. should ensure the implementation of “3R+Renewable (switch torenewable resources)” and appropriate disposal measures for the waste that is generated after the maximum efforts

6are made. Furthermore, they should consider effective use of their stocks to reduce their resource deployment andconsumption from a medium- to long-term perspective, with a view to transitioning to a circular economy.
3.2.5 Reduction of containers and packaging and adoption of recycled materials and plant-derived
materials
Suppliers etc. should make efforts throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goodsetc. to minimize their use of containers and packaging for their products, as well as boxes for packing them, andpallets, packing, and other materials for transportation. They should also make use of recycled and plant-derived
materials as well as easily reusable or recyclable containers and packaging.
3.2.6 Reduction of plastic product use and mitigation of its contamination of the environment
Based on the basic principles of 3R+Renewable stated in the “Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics” of Japan,
Suppliers, etc. should, in their manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc., reduce nonessential use and disposal of single-use plastic containers, packaging, and products and, where alternatives canpossibly be found, pursue the adoption of appropriate alternative recyclable resources, such as recycled materials
and paper that retain or exceed the performance of the original materials.
3.2.7 Contamination prevention, chemical substance control, and waste management
Suppliers, etc. shall, throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc., comply
with relevant environmental laws and regulations to prevent contamination of air, water, and soil, appropriately
control chemical substances (including those contained in their products), and properly dispose of their wastematerials. They should also make efforts to prevent adverse effects on the environment and human healththroughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc.
3.2.8 Extraction of raw materials with consideration for resource conservation
Where Procured Goods, etc. involve forest/marine resources, Suppliers, etc. shall not employ illegally extracted or
cultivated resources for Procured Goods, etc. They should also utilise such raw materials in their Procured Goods,
etc. that have been cultivated/harvested with the awareness of resource conservation, for example, to stop
deforestation or forest degradation (to promote initiatives for zero-deforestation).
3.2.9 Conservation of biodiversity
Suppliers, etc. shall not use in their Procured Goods, etc. raw materials that are derived from endangered species
and other wild animals and plants for which measures of resource conservation and reproduction security are nottaken for ensuring their sustainable use. They should also endeavour to reduce the impact on biodiversity andecosystems throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc., including thecultivation and harvest of raw materials, by pursuing the protection of endangered species and other wild animals
and plants through production that imposes less impact on wildlife and their habitats.

7

3.3

Human rights

The Association aims to achieve an inclusive EXPO operation and ensure diversity and inclusion by providing anenvironment which will encourage diverse people to proactively participate with peace of mind and disseminate
diverse ideas from EXPO 2027 YOKOHAMA JAPAN.
3.3.1 Compliance with and respect for international human rights standards
Suppliers, etc. shall comply with and respect international human rights standards (in particular, the United Nations
Global Compact, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, UN Convention against Torture, Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others, UN
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights), in
relation to the Procured Goods etc.
3.3.2 Prohibition of discrimination and harassment
Suppliers, etc. shall eliminate any forms of discrimination and harassmenta based on race, nationality, religion,
gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or social standing, etc. throughout the manufacture,
distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc.
3.3.3 Prohibition of the violation of rights of indigenous people and local communities
Suppliers, etc. shall respect the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities to free, prior, and informed
consent throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc., and shall notillegally displace members of indigenous people and local communities by force or considerably damage theirenvironment for living.
3.3.4 Respect for the rights of women
Throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc., Suppliers, etc. should
respect women’s rights and make arrangements for promoting female participation, enhancing childcare leaves, etc.
from the viewpoints of women’s empowerment, equal opportunities for social participation between men andwomen, and reproductive health and rights.
3.3.5 Respect for the rights of persons with disabilities
Throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc., Suppliers, etc. should
respect the rights of persons with disabilities and make reasonable arrangements such as promoting theiremployment, enhancing accessibility in workplaces, and adopting products produced by such persons, in order toa Including on the basis of skin colour, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, or property

8

support their economic and social participation. When the provision of products and services is concerned, theyshould ensure the convenience and safety of people with disabilities is considered.
3.3.6 Respect for the rights of children
Throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc., Suppliers, etc. should
respect the rights of children and make arrangements for prohibiting child labour, ensuring the safety of products
and services intended for children, providing support to parents and guardians involved in childcare, in order tosupport the sound development of children.
3.3.7 Respect for the rights of social minorities
Throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc., Suppliers, etc. should
respect the rights of social minorities, such as ethnic, cultural and sexual minorities (including LGBT) and migrant
workers, as fully as the rights of other people, and give due consideration to supporting these people to enjoy
economic and social rights equal to the rights of other people, while taking into consideration the protection ofprivacy according to their characteristics.

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3.4

LabourGiven that labour is relevant to each and every step of the manufacture, distribution, and other processes ofProcured Goods, etc., the Association shall pursue appropriate worker management and work to ensure thatappropriate workplace environments are maintained, in an effort to realise decent work, in the context of the global
awareness of the problems concerning forced labour, child labour, long working hours, and employment of foreign
workers. It should also promote a better work-life balance for workers.
3.4.1 Compliance with and respect for international labour standards
Suppliers, etc. shall comply with and respect international labour standards concerning worker (in particular, thebasic principles and rights on worker promoted by the International Labour Organizationb (including ILO’s Core
Labour Standards)) throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured Goods, etc.
3.4.2 Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining
Suppliers, etc. shall secure the fundamental rights of workers engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and otherprocesses of Procured Goods, etc., such as freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
3.4.3 Ban on forced labour
Suppliers, etc. shall not use any form of forced labour in the manufacture, distribution, and other processes ofProcured Goods, etc., nor shall they engage in human trafficking.
3.4.4 Prohibition of child labour
Suppliers, etc. shall not employ any form of child labour throughout the manufacture, distribution, and otherprocesses of the Procured Goods, etc.
3.4.5 Prohibition of discrimination regarding employment and occupation
Suppliers, etc. shall not discriminate against any worker engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and otherprocesses of the Procured Goods, etc. in terms of their employment, wages, working hours and other conditions on
the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, social standing, etc.
3.4.6 Wages
Suppliers, etc. shall pay the workers engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of the Procured
Goods, etc. at least the minimum wage stipulated by law.
Suppliers, etc. should take it into consideration that the wages paid should reflect the value of the workers’ and be
sufficient for them to pay for their essentials.

b Four principles related to fundamental rights ((1) Freedom of association and the effective right to collective

bargaining; (2) the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour; (3) the effective abolition of childlabour; and (4) the elimination of all forms of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation) advocatedin the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up (1998)

10

3.4.7 Prohibition of long working hours
Suppliers, etc. shall not subject workers to illegally-long working hours (or long working hours that may
compromise the health and wellbeing of the workers to whom conventional regulations on working hours do not
apply) throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of the Procured Goods, etc.
3.4.8 Workplace health and safety
Suppliers, etc. shall ensure, according to the laws and regulations concerning workplace health and safety, working
environments and conditions for the workers engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of the
Procured Goods, etc. appropriate for their physical and psychological safety and soundness, such as theestablishment of a health and safety committee and the provision of mental health programmes. Suppliers, etc.
should also make efforts to ensure that the working environments allow the workers to maintain a good balance
between their work and personal lives.
3.4.9 Foreign and migrant workers
Suppliers, etc. shall appropriately manage the foreign and migrant workers (including technical intern trainees,
specified skilled workers, and international students) working in their countries for the manufacture, distribution,and other processes of the Procured Goods, etc. pursuant to the relevant laws and regulationsc. They shall not
engage in illegal acts or misconduct towards these workers, such as withholding wages, demanding illegally long
working hours, confiscating their passports, deporting them, and levying security deposits from them. They shallissue the workers with a description of working conditions in writing and in a language which the workers canunderstand.
Suppliers, etc. should, when they employ foreign and migrant workers through brokers or workforce outsourcing
agencies, verify that these brokers and agencies are legally licensed to operate the brokerage/outsourcing, that they
do not levy commissions from foreign and migrant workers, and that they do not violate the rights of these foreign
and migrant workers. In addition, Suppliers, etc. should make efforts to provide appropriate housing, develop asystem that enables foreign and migrant workers to easily access opportunities to file complaints or seek
consultations, and liaise with the relevant authorities.
3.4.10Prevention of violence and harassment in the workplace

Suppliers, etc. shall prohibit workplace violence and harassment throughout the manufacture, distribution, andother processes of the Procured Goods, etc. and implement appropriate measures for their prevention.
3.4.11

Proactive employment of disadvantaged people in the labour market

Suppliers, etc. should make arrangements to promote the employment of people facing difficulties in finding jobs,
such as people in need and single-parents throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of Procured
Goods, etc.
c With regard to foreign technical intern trainees, the Act on Proper Technical Intern Training and Protection ofTechnical Intern Trainees (Law No. 89 of 2016) came into effect in November 2017 to strengthen the supervisionsystem for supervising and implementing organizations and to protect technical intern trainees.

11

3.5

The economy

There have been growing social expectations in recent years for fairness in business activities. Moreover,sustainability is perceived to comprise of the three pillars of the environment, society, and the economy, and it isexpected that these three aspects are harmoniously integrated into corporate economic and business activities. For
business entities including Suppliers, etc. and other SMEs, which form a fundamental part of the Japanese
economy, their proactive engagement in the procurement activities for EXPO 2027 YOKOHAMA JAPAN will, inparticular, offer them an opportunity to identify new markets and enhance their expertise, allowing them tocontribute to a sustained economic growth of the country. For this reason, the Association shall also emphasise theimportance of initiatives concerning fair business practices and the local economy.
3.5.1 Prevention of corruption
Suppliers, etc. shall not allow themselves to be involved in acts of corruption such as bribery throughout the
manufacture, distribution, and other processes of the Procured Goods, etc.
3.5.2 Fair trade practices
Throughout the manufacture, distribution, and other processes of the Procured Goods, etc., Suppliers, etc. shallcomply with the Antimonopoly Act, the Subcontract Act, and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. They shallnot take part in unfair, anticompetitive trade practices, such as dumping, abuse of buying power, and collusive
tendering.
3.5.3 Use of raw materials free from association with conflicts or crimes
For Procured Goods, etc., Suppliers, etc. shall not use raw materials that are in any way related to armed conflicts
or crimes, such as the financing of armed groups or criminal organisations.
3.5.4 Protection of intellectual property rights
Suppliers, etc. shall not infringe third-party intellectual property rights (e.g. patent rights, utility model rights, copy
rights, design rights, trademarks, etc.) or business secrets throughout the manufacture, distribution, and otherprocesses of Procured Goods, etc.
3.5.5 Responsible marketing
Suppliers, etc. shall not make misleading representations prohibited by the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums andMisleading Representations (Law No. 134 of 1962) in the marketing of Procured Goods, etc. Suppliers, etc. should
also give due consideration to consumers and society in the marketing of Procured Goods, etc. by, for example,
avoiding discriminatory or misleading advertisements and restricting advertisements that may have an undesirable
influence on children.

123.5.6 Appropriate information management
Suppliers, etc. shall treat personal information pursuant to relevant laws throughout the manufacture, distribution,and other processes of the Procured Goods, etc. and appropriately manage confidential information related to the
EXPO, which they obtain through the course of their operations, to prevent leakage due to cyberattacks or internal
fraud. Suppliers, etc. should also make efforts to strengthen their data access control and establish a data leakage
mitigation system appropriate to the data security risks, as well as to ensure measures are in place to investigate thecause and minimise the damage in case of information leakage.
3.5.7 Stimulation of the local economy
Participation in the sustainable procurement required for the EXPO offers the communities and SMEs in Japan avaluable experience that helps to attain international competitiveness and be invigorated, allowing local
communities to thrive sustainably. Promoting local production for local consumption as well as a regional circular
economy within Japan also contribute to the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
For this reason, the Association shall support initiatives to encourage communities and SMEs in Japan to participate
in sustainable procurement.
Suppliers, etc. should, when purchasing services and procuring raw materials in relation to the manufacture,
distribution, and other processes of the Procured Goods, etc., make efforts to provide opportunities for the local
communities, SMEs, and business operators in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries that pursue sustainable
vitalisation of the communities in Japan. They should also endeavour to use products that are produced within
Japan with sustainability in mind.
However, when Suppliers, etc. conduct procurement as government procurement subject to the WTO Agreement on
Government Procurement, they shall consider this while complying with the Agreement.

13

4Standards by item

The following items shall be subject to 3, 5, and 6 of the Procurement Code as well as the respective standards
provided in Appendix:

1

Wood materials

2

Paper materials

3

Agricultural products

4

Livestock products

5

Fishery products

6

Palm oil

7

Plants14

5

How to ensure sustainable procurement

5.1

Understanding the Procurement CodeThose who wish to be Suppliers, etc. shall review and understand the Procurement Code in advance.

5.2

Declaration of commitment

Those who wish to be Suppliers, etc. shall submit a commitment form in advance to declare that they will becommitted to comply with the Procurement Code.

5.3

Development of a system for Procurement Code compliance

Suppliers, etc. should conduct appropriate reviews and assessments of their business operations and supply chainsin terms of the negative impact they may have on the sustainability of the environment, human rights, and otherfactors (the risks to sustainability) prior to the conclusion of a contract with the Association and also in thesubsequent period, and ensure that countermeasures are provided according to the risks identified through theassessments and a system is in place to ensure compliance with the Procurement Code. They should conduct, inassessing and addressing the risks to sustainability, the due diligence required of them by the internationalguidelines, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, OECD Guidelines forMultinational Enterprises, OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, and the ILO
Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy.

5.4

Dissemination

Suppliers, etc. should, prior to the conclusion of a contract with the Association and also in the subsequent period,
provide training, educational or otherwise appropriate opportunities to disseminate the content of the Procurement
Code to their officers, employees, and members of the supply chains.

5.5

Engagement with supply chains

Suppliers, etc. should, prior to the conclusion of a contract with the Association and also in the subsequent period,
make efforts to engage their supply chains to ensure that the Procurement Code is complied with throughout the
manufacture, distribution, and other processes of the Procured Goods, etc. by requesting the members of their
supply chains to comply with the Procurement Code or equivalent procurement policies. In the process ofengagement efforts, Suppliers, etc. should appropriately verify and assess the risks to sustainability in their supply
chains and mobilise their greater efforts on engagement on the supply chains or sectors of higher risk.
In their efforts to engage the supply chains, Suppliers, etc. should emphasise the importance of communication withthe supply chains based on the principle of coexistence and coprosperity so that compliance with the Procurement
Code is realised as a concerted effort with the supply chains.

15Suppliers, etc. should ensure that, in terms of the contracts with parties in their supply chains, the details necessary
for implementing the surveys and engagement of, and communication with, the supply chains are provided in thespecifications and other documents.

5.6

Documentation of implementation

Suppliers, etc. should, prior to the conclusion of a contract with the Association and also in the subsequent period,
document as thoroughly as possible the efforts being made to ensure compliance with the Procurement Code,including the efforts to survey and engage the supply chains, so that the records are readily available upon requestof the Association.
Suppliers, etc. shall make readily available upon the request of the Association, in particular, the names andaddresses of facilities for manufacturing (in the assembly/finishing stage) and for storage (including the facilities
that belong to business operators in the supply chains) of Procured Goods, etc. They should also develop andimplement a system that facilitates the provision of other information about these facilities as much as possible
upon request of the Association.

5.7

Disclosure and explanation of implementation

Those who wish to be Suppliers, etc. shall disclose and explain their efforts to ensure compliance with theProcurement Code (including ones being planned), which also include the survey and engagement of their supply
chains, in the manner specified by the Association based on the types, volumes, etc. of Procured Goods, etc.
Likewise, after a contract is concluded, Suppliers, etc. shall disclose and explain the implementation of theirinitiatives upon request of the Association.

5.8

Verification and monitoring of compliance

The Association shall, prior to the conclusion of a contract with the Suppliers, etc. and also in the subsequent
period, verify and monitor the compliance of the Suppliers, etc. with the Procurement Code when it is deemednecessary according to the levels of sustainability-related risks.
Suppliers, etc. shall cooperate in such verification and monitoring. If it is deemed necessary to conduct further
investigations as a result of the aforementioned verification and monitoring, the Association may request theSuppliers, etc. to accept an audit conducted by a third party appointed by the Association. Suppliers, etc. shallcooperate with the Association to the extent possible when it requests the verification and monitoring ofcompliance with the Procurement Code or third-party audits to be conducted in their supply chains.

16

5.9

Remedial measures

If a Supplier, etc. is found to be in noncompliance with the Procurement Code, the Association shall demand said
Supplier, etc. that they implement remedial measures and submit, within a specified period, an improvement plan.
Where this is the case, the Supplier, etc. shall submit its improvement plan within the designated period, implement
their remedial measures according to the plan after it is approved by the Association, and report the results of theimplementation of the measures to the Association.
If noncompliance with the Procurement Code is found in supply chains, relevant Suppliers, etc. shall cooperatewith the Association to communicate the request for making improvements to the members of the supply chains.
The Association may terminate the contract with a Supplier, etc. if the Supplier, etc. is deemed to be insufficient in
implementing improvements despite their significant noncompliance with the Procurement Code. Provided,
however, that noncompliance in the supply chains of Suppliers, etc. with the Procurement Code will not be a reason
for contract termination as long as the Suppliers, etc. are appropriately communicating with their supply chainsbased on the provisions of this Procurement Code and requests of the Association.

17

6

Grievance Mechanism

The Association shall implement a whistleblower hotline to receive and properly respond to reports concerning
noncompliance with the Procurement Code (including information about an actual case of noncompliance or facts
that may suggest such noncompliance with the Procurement Code; hereinafter referred to as “Report(s)”).
If Reports are made, the Association shall request the reported Suppliers, etc. to verify the facts and, should they befound or suspected to be in noncompliance with the Procurement Code, demand the remedial measures described in
5.9 above be implemented. Otherwise, it shall take necessary actions to resolve the noncompliance, such as
promoting communication between the Suppliers, etc. and relevant stakeholders.
Suppliers, etc. shall cooperate with the Association in handling the Report.
Details of the procedure of accepting and handling Reports will be specified by the Association separately.

18

Appendix: Standards by item
1

Wood materials

Regarding the wood materials used for goods, services, and works procured by the Association and Suppliers, etc.,
the separate standards described below are provided from the viewpoint of sustainability, in addition to the
Sustainability Standards (Common Standards).

Sustainable Procurement Standards for Wood Materials
1

These Procurement Standards apply to the following wood materials (except recycled timber offcuts and wastebuilding materials):(1) Lumber, composite wood, cross laminated timber, plywood, laminated veneer lumber, and flooringboards used as building materials(2) Plywood boards used for building concrete moulds(3) Wood used for furniture

2

The wood materials described in 1 above shall be required to meet the following (1) to (5) from thesustainability point of view. Regarding plywood boards for concrete moulds, Suppliers, etc. shall make efforts
to reuse these and also meet (1) to (5) in the reuse, where (1) is a mandatory requirement:(1) The timber should be logged through appropriate processes that conform to the forest-related laws andregulations of the country or territory where raw wood is produced.
(2) The timber derives from the forests that are maintained and managed based on medium- to long-termplans or policies.
(3) Logging is performed in such a way as the ecosystem is protected, environmentally important areas,
including wetlands and ancient woodlands, are appropriately conserved, and the timber is not fromforests to be converted into agricultural lands, etc.
(4) The forests are utilised in such a manner that the rights of the indigenous peoples and local residents arerespected and their consent has been obtained by their free will based on sufficient, prior information.
(5) Occupational health and safety are ensured for the workers employed for logging.

3

Certified materials by FSC Note 1, PEFC Note 2, or SGEC Note 3 are accepted in principle as highly compliant with
(1) to (5) in 2 above Note 4.

4

Materials not applicable to 3 above shall have proof that they have been verified with reference to therequirements of (1) to (5) in 2 above by the methods described in Supplement.

19

5

When selecting wood materials with reference to 3 and 4 above, Suppliers, etc. Note 5 should consider thegreenhouse gas emissions from transportation of the wood materials, resource cycles in the local communities,
and contribution to the stimulation of local economies by selecting domestic timber etc.

6

Suppliers, etc. shall retain for five years the documents concerning the certifications in 3 and the proof in 4
above for the wood materials they use, and submit these if requested by the Association.

7

It is recommended that Suppliers, etc. gather as much information as possible about their wood materials interms of their places of origin and any deficiencies concerning the producers, from the perspective of theirtraceability to the logging sites, and use such information to lower the risk of procuring from producers ofwood materials that do not satisfy 2 above, while paying sufficient attention to the credibility and objectivityof such information.

8

Based on the understanding of the Act on Promoting the Distribution and Use of Legally Harvested Wood andWood Products, it is recommended that the business operators Note 6 engaged in each phase of the manufacture,
distribution, and other processes up to the delivery to the Suppliers, etc., including logging, are registered
wood-related business operators as per the Act, and Suppliers, etc. should preferentially select registered
wood-related business operators as a source in their choices of the wood materials to which the Act applies, inorder to lower the risk of the distribution of illegally-logged timber in Japan.

Note 1: The Forest Stewardship Council
Note 2: The programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes
Note 3: The Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council
Note 4: The Association shall verify the standard compliance of the materials even if they are certified materials
should it judge them highly unlikely to comply with 2 (1) to 2 (5) above.
Note 5: Where licensed merchandise is concerned, replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “licensees.” Concerning goods,
services, and works the Exhibitors procure, replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “Exhibitors” (the same applies
hereafter).
Note 6: This is limited to a business operator in Japan that is qualified as a registered wood-related business entity
defined in the Act on Promoting the Distribution and Use of Legally Harvested Wood and Wood Products.

20

Supplement (Ways to provide proof for non-certified materials)
With reference to 4 of the Sustainable Procurement Standards for Wood Materials (hereinafter referred to as “theProcurement Standards”), details are given as follows:1

The point described in 2 (1) of the Procurement Standards shall be assessed for legality as per the Guidelines
for Certification of Legality and Sustainability of Timber and Timber Products (issued 15 February 2006) by
the Forestry Agency. Note that the legality of plywood for concrete moulds shall be proven in the samemanner as the plywood frames provided for in the national government’s Basic Policies concerning thePromotion of the Procurement of Environmental Goods (amended in the cabinet meeting of 24 February2023).

2

As to 2 (2) to 2 (5) of the Procurement Standards, forest owners, forestry cooperatives, or material producers
in the case of timbers produced in Japan, and importers in the case of imported timbers, shall verify thefollowing by reasonable means from the accountability point of view and record and report the verification
results to Suppliers, etc., or submit a third-party audit report that proves the results.
(2) Verify that the forests where the timber in question is produced are certified with forest management
plans, etc. or maintained and managed by their owners, etc. based on their own plans.
(3) If rare species of flora or fauna are found in the forests where the timber in question is produced, verify
that measures to protect them are in place, including logging procedures. Where there are wetlands,
ancient woodlands, or other important forest areas that need protection, verify that measures for theirconservation are in place. Also verify that the forests will not be converted to agricultural lands, etc.
(4) If the forests where the timber in question is produced involve the rights of indigenous peoples, etc.,verify that their consent has been obtained by their free will based on sufficient, prior information.
(5) Verify that the workers engaged in logging the timber in question are provided with a working
environment where their health and safety are ensured through, for example, the provision of health andsafety education and mandatory use of appropriate safety equipment.

3

Business operators in each stage of the distribution path from logging to delivery of timber shall issue a
document (certificate) to the immediate point of delivery to prove that the delivered timbers have been verifiedof the points set forth in (2) above, and the issuance of a certificate shall be repeated in this manner at eachpoint of delivery.

4

The operators of building mould installation shall prove in writing if they are reusing plywood boards forconcrete moulds that they have already been used more than once.

5

Each business operator shall retain relevant documents of the wood materials for five years, including theshipping records and certificates.

21

2Paper materials

Regarding the paper materials used for goods, services, and works procured by the Association and Suppliers, etc.,
the separate standards described below are provided from the viewpoint of sustainability, in addition to the
Sustainability Standards (Common Standards).

Sustainable Procurement Standards for Paper Materials
1

These procurement standards apply to the following paper materials (including Japanese washi paper):Posters, fliers, pamphlets, books/reports, tickets, certificates, printing paper, administrative notebooks,
envelopes, business cards, toilet rolls, tissue paper, paper serviettes, paper bags, paper plates, paper cups,
packaging boxes for licenced products, and wrapping paper.

2

The paper materials described in 1 above shall be required to meet the following (1) to (3) from thesustainability point of view:(1) Recycled pulp is used to the maximum extent possible depending on the purpose and characteristics ofthe products Note 1.
(2) Where non-recycled pulp (hereinafter referred to as “Virgin Pulp”) is used, its raw materials (including
the by-products of forest thinning, non-wood materials such as bamboos and reeds, and washi materials
such as kozo (paper mulberry) and mitsumata (Oriental paperbush); excluding timber offcuts, wastebuilding materials, woodland waste, and waste plant fibres) shall satisfy the following a to e:a

The timber, etc. has been logged or otherwise harvested through appropriate procedures withreference to the laws and regulations relating to forests and other extraction sites of the country or
territory where they are produced.

b

The timber, etc. derives from the forests or other extraction sites that are maintained and managed
based on medium- to long-term plans or policies.

c

Logging or harvesting is performed in such ways as the ecosystem is protected, environmentally
important areas, including wetlands and ancient woodlands, are appropriately conserved, and theforests are not converted to agricultural lands, etc.

d

The forests, etc. are utilised in such a manner that the rights of the indigenous peoples and local
residents are respected and their consent has been obtained by their free will based on sufficient
prior information.

e

Occupational health and safety are ensured for the workers employed for logging or extraction.

(3) Depending on the purposes and characteristics of the products, the paper is not brightened excessively,
printed excessively, or processed in such a way that makes paper recycling difficult Note 2.

22

3

Paper from Virgin Pulp shall be accepted as satisfying 2 (2) a to 2 (2) e above if it is FSC or PEFC (including
SGEC) certified paper Note 3. If paper other than these certified papers is required, the points a to e shall beverified about the timber, etc. that is used to produce the Virgin Pulp as specified in Supplement.

4

Suppliers, etc. Note 4 shall retain the documents concerning 2 (1) to 2 (3) above for the paper to be used for one
year following the end of EXPO 2027 YOKOHAMA JAPAN, and submit these if requested by the
Association.

5

It is recommended that Suppliers, etc. gather as much information as possible about their paper materials interms of their places of origin and any deficiencies concerning the producers, from the perspective of theirtraceability to the logging sites, and use such information to lower the risk of procuring from producers of
paper that does not satisfy 2 above, while paying sufficient attention to the credibility and objectivity of suchinformation.

6

Based on the understanding of the Act on Promoting the Distribution and Use of Legally Harvested Wood andWood Products, it is recommended that the business operators Note 5 engaged in each phase of the manufacture,
distribution, and other processes up to the delivery to the Suppliers, etc., including logging, are registered
wood-related business operators as per the Act, and Suppliers, etc. should preferentially select registered
wood-related business operators as a source in their choices of the wood materials to which the Act applies, inorder to lower the risk of the distribution of illegally-logged timber in Japan.

Notes 1 and 2: Printing paper, administrative notebooks, etc. may be subject to designated recycled pulp content
and brightness with reference to the Basic Policy for Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods, etc. of theJapanese government.
Note 3: Certificate of Conformity (CoC) shall be consecutive.
Note 4: Where licensed merchandise (including the packaging boxes for the licensed merchandise) is concerned,
replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “licensees.” Concerning goods, services, and works procured by Exhibitors,
replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “Exhibitors” (the same applies hereafter).
Note 5: This is limited to a business operator in Japan that is qualified as a registered wood-related business entity
defined in the Act on Promoting the Distribution and Use of Legally Harvested Wood and Wood Products.

23

Supplement (Ways to verify non-certified paper)With reference to the second sentence of 3 of the Sustainable Procurement Standards for Paper Materials(hereinafter referred to as “the Procurement Standards”), details are given as follows:
As to 2 (2) a to 2 (2) e of the Procurement Standards, paper producers in the case of paper produced in Japan, andimporters in the case of importing paper produced abroad, shall verify the following by reasonable means from theaccountability point of view and document the verification results:aVerify that the timber, etc. in question is logged or otherwise harvested through appropriate procedureswith reference to the laws and regulations of the country or territory where it is produced.

b

Verify that the forests, etc. for production and harvest of the timber, etc. in question are certified with
forest management plans, etc. or the landowner, etc. has plans or policies for management andmaintenance of the sites.

c

If rare species of flora or fauna are found in the forests, etc. where the timber, etc. in question is produced
and harvested, verify that measures to protect them are in place, including for logging procedures. Where
there are wetlands, ancient woodlands, or other important forest areas that need protection, verify thatmeasures for their conservation are in place. Also verify that the forests will not be converted toagricultural lands, etc.

d

If the forests, etc. where the timber, etc. in question is produced and harvested involve the rights ofindigenous peoples, etc., verify that their consent has been obtained by their free will based on sufficient,prior information.

eVerify that the workers engaged in logging and harvesting the timber, etc. in question are provided with aworking environment where their health and safety are ensured through, for example, the provision ofhealth and safety education and mandatory use of appropriate safety equipment.

24

3Agricultural products

Regarding the agricultural products used for the food and related services provided by the Association and
Suppliers, etc., the separate standards described below are provided from the viewpoint of sustainability, in addition
to the Sustainability Standards (Common Standards).

Sustainable Procurement Standards for Agricultural Products
1

The Procurement Standards apply to fresh agricultural produce (*) and processed food products whose
primary ingredients are agricultural products.
Suppliers, etc. Note 1 shall procure agricultural produce that satisfies the Procurement Standards for their fresh
food products. As for processed food products, they shall prioritise as much as possible those products whose
primary agricultural ingredients satisfy the Procurement Standards. They shall also take due care through theirprocurement to reduce food loss and waste.
* This include the agricultural products as fresh produce included in Appended Table 2 of the Food LabellingStandards pursuant to the Food Labelling Act of Japan: fresh agricultural produce includes rice, wheat,miscellaneous grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, other agricultural produce (including produce that isconditioned, sorted, and rinsed after harvesting, as well as that simply cut or simply frozen), mushrooms,
wild herbs and bamboo shoots.

2

The agricultural products described in 1 above shall be required to meet the following (1) to (4) from thesustainability point of view:(1) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production are implemented for the production of agricultural products in order to ensure food safety.
(2) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production are implemented for the production of agricultural products in order to ensure that agricultural
production activities take into consideration the adjacent environments and local ecosystems.
(3) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production are implemented for the production of agricultural products in order to ensure theoccupational safety of workers.
(4) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production are implemented for the production of agricultural products in order to ensure the humanrights of workers are protected.

3Agricultural products produced by methods certified according to the GLOBALG.A.P., ASIAGAP or JGAP
standards are accepted in principle as highly compliant with 2 above.

25

4

Where there is a need for agricultural products that are not produced with the certification stated in 3 above,these shall be required to prove to be highly compliant with 2 above by showing that their production is basedon the GAP standards pursuant to the “Guidelines on International-level GAP” prepared by the Ministry ofAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, and have a third-party certification by public agencies, such asprefectural governments.

5

Where there is a need for agricultural products that do not satisfy 3 or 4 above, products to be procured shallbe produced by methods that are certified by a public agency or other third party as contributing to the
reduction of their environmental impact, in order to be considered as having high levels of environmental
consideration Note 2.

6

Suppliers, etc. should, when selecting agricultural products, take into consideration the greenhouse gas
emissions from the transportation of these agricultural products, the resource cycles in the local communities,
and contribution to boosting local economies. From these viewpoints, they should prioritise the use of
agricultural products produced in Japan with sustainability in mind Note 3. However, when Suppliers, etc.
conduct procurement as government procurement subject to the WTO Agreement on Government
Procurement, they shall consider this while complying with the Agreement.

7

Concerning agricultural products produced outside Japan, etc. and difficult to verify their high levels ofcompliance with 2 above, Suppliers, etc. should pursue their procurement with high priority placed on those
products that are produced based on sustainability initiatives, such as Fairtrade, and ensured of theirtraceability.

8

In order to ensure traceability, Suppliers, etc. shall retain documents proving that the agricultural products theyuse meet 2 to 7 above and 9 below for one year following the end of EXPO 2027 YOKOHAMA JAPAN, andshall submit such documents if requested by the Association.

9

In addition to 2 above, from the viewpoint of further promoting the producers’ engagement in contributing tosustainability, it is recommended to increase to the maximum extent possible the procurement of agricultural
products produced organically, by methods that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, through proactive
participation of persons with disabilities in production, or in areas where people preserve traditional
agricultural practices recognised by international organisations or national governments, such as the Globally
Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, asthese are regarded as having exceptional environmental arrangements. Suppliers who declare to pursue thisshall publicly disclose their initiative details and procurement performance.

26

Note 1: Where licensed merchandise is concerned, replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “licensees.” Concerning goods,
services, and works procured by Exhibitors, replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “Exhibitors” (the same applies
hereafter).
Note 2: Refers to agricultural products produced through initiatives certified under the Act on Promotion ofBusiness Activities with Reduced Environmental Impact in Order to Establish a Food System that Keeps inBalance with the Environment. Other than these, agricultural products produced by organic agricultural
methods are also approved. Note, however, that Suppliers, etc. shall pursue their procurement with due
considerations to 2 (1), 2 (3) and 2 (4) above.
Note 3: This includes initiatives that contribute to the reduction of environmental impact, such as those based on
the Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems, MIDORI.

27

4

Livestock products

Regarding livestock products for the food and related services provided by the Association and Suppliers, etc., theseparate standards described below are provided for from the viewpoint of sustainability, in addition to the
Sustainability Standards (Common Standards).

Sustainable Procurement Standards for Livestock Products
1

The Procurement Standards apply to fresh livestock products (*) and processed food products whose primary
ingredients are livestock products.
Suppliers, etc. Note 1 shall procure livestock products that satisfy the Procurement Standards for their fresh foodproducts. As for processed food products, they shall prioritise as much as possible those products whose
primary livestock ingredients satisfy the Procurement Standards. They shall also take due care through theirprocurement to reduce food loss and waste.
* This includes livestock products as fresh products included in Appended Table 2 of the Food LabellingStandards pursuant to the Food Labelling Act of Japan: fresh livestock products include fresh meat, milk,
eggs for consumption, and other livestock products (including products that are simply cut or sliced, andthose simply refrigerated or frozen).

2

The livestock products described in 1 above shall be required to meet the following (1) to (5) from thesustainability point of view:(1) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production are implemented for the production of livestock products in order to ensure food safety.
(2) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production are implemented for the production of livestock products in order to ensure environmentallyconscious livestock production activities.
(3) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production are implemented for the production of livestock products in order to ensure the occupationalsafety of workers.
(4) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production are implemented for the production of livestock products in order to ensure the human rights
of workers are protected.
(5) Appropriate measures with reference to the Terrestrial Animal Health Code Note 2 by OIE (World
Organisation for Animal Health) and other regulations in alignment with the animal welfare approach are
implemented for the production of livestock products in order to ensure animal comfort in livestock
rearing management.

28

3

Livestock products produced by methods certified according to the JGAP standards are accepted in principle
as highly compliant with 2 above.

4

Where there is a need for livestock products that do not satisfy 3 above, products to be procured shall be
produced by methods that are certified by a public agency or other third party as contributing to the reductionof their environmental impact, in order to be considered as having high levels of environmental consideration
Note 35.

Suppliers, etc. should, when selecting livestock products, take into consideration the greenhouse gas emissions
from the transportation of these livestock products, the resource cycles in the local communities, andcontribution to boosting local economies. From these viewpoints, they should consider using livestock
products that are produced in Japan with sustainability in mind Note 4. However, when Suppliers, etc. conduct
procurement as government procurement subject to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement, theyshall consider this while complying with the Agreement.

6

Concerning livestock products produced outside Japan, etc. and difficult to verify their high levels ofcompliance with 2 above, Suppliers, etc. should pursue their procurement with high priority placed on those
products that are produced based on sustainability initiatives, such as Fairtrade, and ensured of theirtraceability.

7

In order to ensure traceability, Suppliers, etc. shall retain documents proving that the livestock products theyuse meet 3 to 6 above and 8 below for one year following the end of EXPO 2027 YOKOHAMA JAPAN, andshall submit such documents if requested by the Association.

8

In addition to 2 above, from the viewpoint of further promoting the producers’ engagement in contributing tosustainability, it is recommended to increase to the maximum extent possible the procurement of livestock
products produced by farmers who are committed to sustainable livestock production Note 5. Suppliers, etc. who
declare to pursue procurement of these shall publicly disclose their initiative details and procurement
performance.

Note 1: Where licensed merchandise is concerned, replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “licensees.” Concerning goods,
services, and works procured by Exhibitors, replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “Exhibitors” (the same applies
hereafter).
Note 2: In Japan, an equivalent will be the “Items recommended for implementation” indicated in the Technical
Guidelines concerning the management of livestock rearing by livestock type, which the national
government issued with reference to this Code.

29

Note 3: Refers to livestock products produced through initiatives certified under the Act on Promotion of Business
Activities with Reduced Environmental Impact in Order to Establish a Food System that Keeps in Balancewith the Environment. Note, however, that Suppliers, etc. shall pursue their procurement with due
consideration to 2 (1), 2 (3), 2 (4) and 2 (5) above.
Note 4: This includes initiatives that contribute to the reduction of environmental impact, such as those based on
the Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems, MIDORI.
Note 5: Livestock products produced organically, by HACCAP-controlled farms, by using eco-feed, by farms
practicing pasture livestock farming, through proactive participation of persons with disabilities in
production, by feeding low-carbon feed, by producers equipped with facilities to treat livestock manuresuch as the rapid manure fermentation system, and with domestically produced feeds, sustainabilityconscious eggs and poultry meat (JAS0013-certified products), and livestock products produced onrecycling-oriented combined livestock production farms.

30

5

Fishery products

Regarding the fishery products used for the food and related services provided by the Association and Suppliers,
etc., the separate standards described below are provided for from the viewpoint of sustainability, in addition to the
Sustainability Standards (Common Standards).

Sustainable Procurement Standards for Fishery Products
1

The Procurement Standards apply to fresh fishery products (*) and processed food products whose primary
ingredients are fishery products.
Suppliers, etc. Note 1 shall procure fishery products that satisfy the Procurement Standards for their fresh foodproducts. As for processed food products, they shall prioritise as much as possible those products whose
primary fishery ingredients satisfy the Procurement Standards. They shall also take due care through theirprocurement to reduce food loss and waste.
* This includes the fishery products as fresh products included in Appended Table 2 of the Food LabellingStandards pursuant to the Food Labelling Act of Japan: fresh fishery products include fish, seashells, aquatic
animals, marine mammals, and algae (including round, semi-dressed, and dressed fish as well as fillets,
fillet portions, fillet slices (excluding ones arranged as sashimi), skinless, simply frozen, defrosted after
being frozen, and live fish).

2

The fishery products described in 1 above shall be required to meet the following (1) to (5) from thesustainability point of view:(1) Fishing or production is conducted appropriately in line with the Code of Conduct for Responsible
Fisheries by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and other laws andregulations concerning fisheries.
(2) Wild caught fishery products caught by fisheries for which target fishery resources are managed in aplanned manner, and conservation of the ecosystem is taken into account, based on scientific data.
(3) Farmed fish are reared in fish farms which preserve the ecosystems by maintaining and improving thefishing environments based on scientific data and according to plans, and the farming operations haveappropriate measures in place to ensure food ingredient safety.
(4) Appropriate measures are implemented with reference to the laws and regulations of the country or
territory of production for fishing or production in order to ensure the occupational safety of workers.
(5) Appropriate measures that conform to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production are implemented for the production of fishery products to ensure the protection of and respectfor human rights at work of workers engaged in catching and production of fishery products.

31

3

Fishery products certified by MEL, MSC, or ASC are in principle accepted as being highly compliant with 2above, as these are approved by the GSSI (Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative). In addition, those fisheryproducts certified by the Ecolabelling Certification Scheme for Fish and Fishery Products as being incompliance with the FAO’s Guideline Note 2 may be regarded to be highly compliant with 2 above and also
accepted.

4

Where there is a need for fishery products without any certification specified in 3 above, any of the following
methods shall apply to procured fishery products:(1) Fishery products whose high levels of compliance with 2 above have been verified in accordance with
Supplement, including fishery products caught or produced by fishing or farming based on improvement
plans whose progress toward obtaining certifications specified in 3 can be monitored in a transparent andobjective manner(2) Fishery products that are caught based on an administrative body-authorised plan for resource control
pursuant to the Fishery Act of Japan Note 3, and whose compliance with 2 (4) and 2 (5) above has beenverified in accordance with Supplement(3) Fishery products that are produced in farms managed based on an administrative body-authorised plan tomaintain and improve the fishery environment, and whose compliance with 2 (4) and 2 (5) above has
been verified in accordance with Supplement

5

Endangered species Note 4 shall not be used. However, such species may be used if measures for sustainable
use, such as resource conservation and ensured reproduction, are in place Note 5, or if it is produced entirely byfarming Note 6.

6

Suppliers, etc. should, when selecting fishery products, take into consideration the greenhouse gas emissions
from the transportation of these fishery products, the resource cycles in the local communities, andcontribution to boosting local economies. From these viewpoints, they should consider using fishery productsthat are produced in Japan with sustainability in mind. However, when Suppliers, etc. conduct procurement as
government procurement subject to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement, they shall consider thiswhile complying with the Agreement.

7

Concerning fishery products produced outside Japan, etc. and difficult to verify their high levels of compliancewith 2 above, Suppliers, etc. should pursue their procurement with high priority placed on those products thatare produced based on sustainability initiatives, such as Fairtrade, and ensured of their traceability.

8

In order to ensure traceability, Suppliers, etc. shall retain documents proving that the fishery products they use
meet 3 to 6 above for one year following the end of EXPO 2027 YOKOHAMA JAPAN, and shall submit such
documents if requested by the Association.

32

9

In addition to 2 above, from the viewpoint of further promoting the producers’ engagement in contributing tosustainability, it is recommended to increase to the maximum extent possible the procurement of fisheryproducts with MEL, MSC or ASC certification. It is recommended that no endangered species be used inprinciple. Suppliers, etc. who declare to pursue procurement in these manners shall publicly disclose theirinitiative details and procurement performance.

Note 1: Where licensed merchandise is concerned, replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “licensees.” Concerning goods,
services, and works procured by Exhibitors, replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “Exhibitors” (the same applies
hereafter).
Note 2: Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries. Revision 1.
(2009)-

Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Inland Capture Fisheries. (2011)-

Technical guidelines on aquaculture certification. (2011)

Note 3: Act on Partial Amendments of Fishery Act, etc. (enacted in December 2018, enforced in December 2020)
Note 4: The species specified on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species under the Threatened category (CR:
Critically endangered, EN: Endangered, and VU: Vulnerable).
Note 5: Products that have the GSSI-approved Ecolabelling Certification for Fish and Fishery Products by the
MEL, MSC, or ASC, or products for which measures for catch limits and other restrictions are enforced
based on laws and regulations, as well as international conventions.
Note 6: This refers to farmed fish reared from fish roes that are cultivated through a closed farming cycle.

33

Supplement (Ways to verify fishery products with respect to 4 (1) to 4 (3)With reference to 4(1) to 4(3) of the Sustainable Procurement Standards for Fishery Products (hereinafter referred
to as “the Procurement Standards”), details are given as follows:
As to 2 of the Procurement Standards, the following points shall be verified and the outcome thereof documented
by the fishing operators or the fisheries cooperative association affiliated with the fishing operators in the case offishery products produced in Japan, and by importers in the case of imported fishery products, in ways which arereasonable from the accountability point of view:(1) Verify if all of the following apply to the fishing or production of the fishery products in question:-

Compliant with the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries by the FAO,-

Licensed or authorised in relation to the fishery business in question, based on the Japanese laws andregulations, by relevant controlling authorities (national or regional government), and compliant withregulations in terms of the operational area and period, fishing tools and methods, catch limits, catchtargets, etc.

-

Where the fisheries under international regulations are concerned, in compliance with the resource
control measures specified by the local fishery regulator.

(2) Verify if the wild fish in question are caught by fishing methods to which all of the following apply:-

Targets are set for resource control based on scientific data, and measures are implemented to achievethese targets (for example, effective measures for conserving and managing the target fishery resources)
with their details/practices authorised by administrative bodies and publicly disclosed (including
species under the IQ (individual quota) control).

-Efforts are made to reduce unintended catches of non-target species and small fish.

(3) Verify if the farmed fish in question are produced by fish farming to which all of the following apply:-

Farm fishing environment improvement goals are set in terms of water quality and sediment conditions,and measures are planned and implemented to achieve these goals (for example, fishing environment
monitoring, documenting and retaining the records of fish farming, appropriate use of feed, and control
over the stocking densities or the volume of fry to introduce).

-

Use of chemicals other than fishery chemicals is prohibited, and the fishery chemicals are appropriately
used in compliance with laws and regulations, such as periods of use prohibition.

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(4) Verify that the following measures are appropriately implemented with reference to laws and regulations
related to occupational safety for catching or production of fishery products in question:-

Protective clothes and equipment for work safety are provided, and appropriately maintained after
work.

-

Efforts are made to improve the workplace environment, such as putting up warning signs and ensuring
regular breaks.

-

Machines and tools are checked for safety systems, inspected before use, used appropriately, andmaintained and stored after use.

-

Chemical substances, fuels, etc. are appropriately stored or disposed of.

(5) Verify, to the extent possible, that the following measures are appropriately implemented with reference tohuman rights laws and regulations for catching or production of the fishery products in question:-

Producers, etc. prohibit the exploitation of workers through human trafficking.

-Producers, etc. prohibit the engagement of workers and other individuals for the work which they
undertake by the fear of punishment and for which they did not apply through their free will.

-

Producers, etc. prohibit the employment of minors, below 15 years of age in principle, and also prohibit
the employment of young workers below 18 years of age for dangerous and hazardous work, including
the operation of dangerous equipment, handling of hazardous substances, extended hours of worker,
and night-time worker.

-

Producers, etc. implement appropriate worker management based on applicable laws and regulations
and prohibit discriminatory treatment in terms of employment and work conditions based on theworkers’ race, nationality, gender, etc.

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6Palm oil

Regarding the palm oil used for goods and services procured by the Association and Suppliers, etc., the separate
standards described below are provided from the viewpoint of sustainability, in addition to the Sustainability
Standards (Common Standards).

Sustainable Procurement Standards for Palm Oil
1

The Procurement Standards apply to the palm oil used for deep-frying (cooking for food services), in soap anddetergent products, and as a raw material of processed food products.
Suppliers, etc. Note 1 shall procure deep-frying oil and soap and detergent products, made from the palm oil thatsatisfies the Procurement Standards, and shall prioritise as much as possible those products that use the palm
oil which satisfy the Procurement Standards as ingredients. They shall also take due care through theirprocurement to reduce food loss and waste.
* Following products are highly likely to contain palm oil:including but not limited to comestible oils, instant noodles, bread, pastries, margarine, breadshortening, coffee cream, frozen foods, retort pouched foods, salad dressings, curry roux, fried chicken,
fried potatoes, packed snacks, chocolate, cookies, biscuits, sugar candies, baked cakes, doughnuts, ice
cream, soap, detergent, toiletry products, shampoo, body soap, and toothpaste

2

The palm oil described in 1 above shall be required to meet the following (1) to (4) from the sustainability
point of view:(1) Appropriate procedures are followed with reference to relevant laws and regulations in relation to thedevelopment and management of farms in the country or territory where the palm oil is produced.
(2) Farm development and management are conducted in such a way as the ecosystem is protected, and theenvironmentally important areas, including wetlands and ancient woodlands, are appropriately
conserved.
(3) The farms are developed and managed in such a manner that the rights of the indigenous peoples andother parties in relation to the land are respected and free, prior, and informed consent is obtained fromthem.
(4) The farms are developed and managed, and oil extraction plants are operated in such a way that there is
no child or forced labour and appropriate working environments are ensured for farm workers.

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3

The ISPONote2, MSPO Note 3, and RSPO Note 4 represent the schemes for certifying palm oil production site
initiatives in alignment with the ideas conveyed in 2 (1) to 2 (4) above:(1) While there are some issues pointed out in terms of practical effectiveness, these certification schemes are
considered to support small-scale farmers and a variety of products with their efforts to make
improvements. From this perspective, the palm oils with these certifications Note 5 (hereinafter referred toas “the Certified Palm Oils”) are permitted for use in principle, provided that the points in Supplement
are verified.
(2) For the Certified Palm Oils stated in (1) above, appropriate logistics management shall be provided toensure the handover at each logistics stage is correctly performed.
(3) Where the Certified Palm Oils as in (1) above are difficult to secure, an alternative way is to purchasecredits corresponding to the amount of palm oil to be used, based on these certification schemes, as acontribution to the improvement of production sites.
(4) The Association shall remain watchful of the operations of the ISPO, MSPO, and RSPO in order toassure the appropriateness of appointing these certifying institutions as viable frameworks.

4

Where there is a need for the palm oils other than the Certified Palm Oils described in 3 above, these are
permitted for use as long as they are traceable to their farms and verified by a third party against 2 (1) to 2 (4)above in accordance with Supplement.

5

Suppliers, etc. shall retain the documents concerning items described in 1 above, with descriptions of thosecontaining the palm oils applicable to 3 and 4 above, for one year following the end of EXPO 2027
YOKOHAMA JAPAN and submit these if requested by the Association.

6

It is recommended that Suppliers, etc. gather as much information as possible about their palm oils in terms of
their places of origin and any deficiencies concerning the producers, from the perspective of their traceability
to the farms, and use such information to lower the risk of procuring from producers of palm oils that do notsatisfy 2 above, while paying sufficient attention to the credibility and objectivity of such information.

Note 1: Where licensed merchandise is concerned, replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “licensees.” Concerning goods,
services, and works procured by Exhibitors, replace “Suppliers, etc.” with “Exhibitors” (the same applies
hereafter).
Note 2: Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil
Note 3: Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil
Note 4: Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

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Note 5: Palm oils managed by IP, SG and MB
IP: Identity Preserved, where only certified palm oil from a single plantation is used as raw material and iscompletely separated from non-certified palm oil from pressing to finished product.
SG: Segregation is the use of certified palm oil from multiple plantations as raw material and complete
separation from non-certified palm oil from pressing to finished product.
MB: Mass Balance is a method whereby certified palm oil is mixed with non-certified palm oil during the
production of the product and the ratio of the two is strictly recorded and controlled right through tothe final product stage.

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Supplement (Ways to verify plants with respect to 4 of the Procurement Standards)
With respect to 4 of the Sustainable Procurement Standards for Palm Oil (hereinafter referred to as “theProcurement Standards”), compliance shall be verified as follows:
Regarding 2(1) to 2(4) of the Procurement Standards, a third party shall verify the following:(1) The farms which produce the palm oil in question have, based on the laws and regulations of the country of
production, the government-issued business license necessary for farm operation and comply with relevant
regulations.
(2) If rare species of flora or fauna are found in the area where the farm producing the palm oil in question isdeveloped and managed, verify that measures to protect them are in place. Where there are wetlands,
ancient woodlands, or other important forest areas that need protection, verify that measures for theirconservation are in place.
(3) If the area where the farm producing the palm oil in question is developed and managed involves the rights
of indigenous peoples, etc., verify that free, prior, and informed consent has been obtained from them.
(4) Verify that the farm producing the palm oil in question is developed and managed, and the oil extraction
plant is operated, in such a way that does not involve any child or forced labour, provides appropriate
employment procedures, minimum wages, and other working conditions, including for migrant workers,
and has appropriate occupational safety measures implemented.

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7

PlantsRegarding the plants used for goods, services, and works procured by the Association and Suppliers, etc., theseparate standards described below are provided for from the viewpoint of sustainability, in addition to the
Sustainability Standards (Common Standards).

Sustainable Procurement Standards for Plants
1

These Procurement Standards shall apply to the following plants.
All plants used for greening and exhibition purposes (flower bedding plants, potted plants (including bonsai
and flowering trees), trees, bamboo and bamboo grass, undergrowth, moss and turf, cut flowers, cut leaves, cutbranches, seeds, bulbs, vegetable seedlings, fungi, etc.). The scope of plants is not limited to those producedby cultivation, but also includes those collected from native plants.
However, the following items are not included: dried flowers, preserved flowers, items that are not living
plants at the time of procurement (dead branches, etc.), and agricultural products.

2

The plants specified in 1 above shall be required to meet the following (1) to (3) from the sustainability pointof view. Note that collection of native plants should be kept to a minimum:(1) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production and collection are implemented for the production or other processes of plants in order toensure that production and collection activities take into consideration the adjacent environments andlocal ecosystems.
(2) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production and collection are implemented for the production or other processes of plants in order toensure the occupational safety of workers.
(3) Appropriate measures with reference to the relevant laws and regulations of the country or territory of
production and collection are implemented for the production or other processes of plants in order toensure the human rights of workers are protected.

3

Plants produced by methods certified according to the GLOBALG.A.P., ASIAGAP or JGAP standards are
accepted in principle as highly compliant with 2 above. In addition, if a plant has a valid certification based onan environmental certification system equivalent to MPS-ABC Note 1, or if the plant is produced based on the
GAP that conforms to the “Guidelines on International-level GAP” prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries of Japan and confirmed by a third party such as a prefectural government or otherpublic agency, it may be also accepted as having a high degree of conformance to 2 above Note 2.

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4

If plants other than those produced under the certification/confirmation specified in 3 above are required,compliance with 2 (1) through 2 (3) above shall be verified in accordance with Supplement.

5

No endangered species shall be used. However, those for which measures are taken for sustainable use, suchas resource conservation and ensuring of reproduction, may be used.

6

Concerning plants produced outside Japan, etc. and difficult to verify their high levels of compliance with 2above, Suppliers, etc. should pursue their procurement with high priority placed on those products that are
produced based on sustainability initiatives, such as Fairtrade, and ensured of their traceability.

7

In order to ensure traceability, Suppliers, etc. shall retain documents proving that the plants they use meet 3 to
6 above and 8 below for one year following the end of EXPO 2027 YOKOHAMA JAPAN, and shall submit
such documents if requested by the Association.

8

In addition to 2 above, in order to further promote efforts by producers to improve sustainability, it isrecommended to develop a sustainable production system and establish a sustainable distribution system thateliminates unnecessary waste, through efforts to reduce imports, promote decarbonization, and reduce
environmental impact in the procurement of materials and energy, as well as through innovation Note 3.
Suppliers, etc. who declare to pursue procurement in these manners shall publicly disclose their initiative
details and procurement performance.

Note 1: MPS-ABC: A certification given to growers who have registered and undergone audits for fiveenvironmental themes (use of pesticides, fertilisers, energy, and water, and separation of waste) in the
production process, as part of the comprehensive certification of MPS foundation for flower production.
Note 2: Even if it has a valid certification based on an environmental certification system equivalent to MPS-ABC,
the Suppliers, etc. shall also give consideration to 2 (2) and 2 (3) above in procurement.
Note 3: Including those contributing to initiatives based on the Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems, MIDORI.

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Supplement (Ways to verify plants with respect to 4 of the Procurement Standards)
With respect to 4 of the Sustainable Procurement Standards for Plants (hereinafter referred to as “the Procurement
Standards”), compliance shall be verified as follows: Suppliers, etc. shall perform the following verifications basedon methods considered reasonable from the standpoint of accountability and document the results thereof.
Verification of compliance with (1) and (2) may be substituted by confirmation of initiatives that facilitate theStrategy for Sustainable Food Systems, MIDORI, in the case of products produced in Japan.
(1) Production and collection shall take into consideration the surrounding environment and ecosystem inaccordance with the laws and regulations of the country or territory of production, through such measures as
prevention of environmental pollution by agricultural chemicals; appropriate soil management; appropriate
waste disposal methods and wastewater treatment; and reduction of wasteful and inefficient energy
consumption when using facilities and machinery, etc.
(2) The occupational safety of workers is ensured in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country or
territory of production through the following measures: identifying dangerous work; ensuring that workers
wear safety clothing and protective equipment to work safely; ensuring proper use of machinery and otherequipment; storing fuel properly; posting warning signs; formulating work plans and assigning roles inconsideration of age; requiring workers to participate in first aid training sessions.
(3) The basic human rights of workers are protected in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country
or region of production, by such measures as prohibiting discrimination based on gender, nationality, placeof origin, or religion; concluding employment contracts; establishment of working regulations; providing
rest areas and break times; and enrolling workers in social insurance and workers' accident compensation
insurance.

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Main references●

International agreements and codes of conduct-

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Sustainable Development Goals: SDGs)-

Paris Agreement-

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights-

The ILO Core Labour Standards-

The ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy-

The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its follow-up-

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises-

The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct-

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights-

The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples●

Other international initiatives, standards, guidance, etc.
-

The United Nations Global Compact-

The Children’s Rights and Business Principles-

ISO20121:2012 Event sustainability management system --- Requirements with guidance for use-

ISO26000:2010 Guidance on social responsibility-

ISO20400:2017 Sustainable procurement --- Guidance-

The Guidelines on Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains, the Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry-

Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems, MIDORI, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries-

Green Check Sheet, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries-

Code of Sustainable Procurement (Second edition), Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition-

Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Sustainable Sourcing Code (3rd edition), The Tokyo
Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

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Preparation process
The Association established a panel of experts specialized in environmental, human rights and labour issues, which
deliberated the Procurement Code. Information on the expert panel is available on the Association’s website.
(https://expo2027yokohama.or.jp/)

Revisions
18 January 2024

Code of Sustainable Procurement created.

44