JAPAN WINES AND SPIRITS IMPORTERS' ASSOCIATION|Outline of the Japan Wine and Spirits Importers' Association

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Outline of the Japan Wine and Spirits Importers' Association

Message from the Chairman of the Association

Koichi Matsuzawa

Japan Wines and Spirits
Importers' Association
Taichirou Isono, Chairman

The Japan Wines and Spirits Importers' Association was founded in April 1959 for the purpose of promoting the diffusion of imported wines and spirits in Japan, expanding market demand for imported wines and spirits and supporting and facilitating import business. At present, the Association is active with a membership of 28 companies engaged in business related to imported wines and spirits.
The large variety of wines and spirits currently imported into, and consumed on, the Japanese market includes wine, brandy, whisky, liqueurs, and beer. These categories of wines and spirits are imported in a copious diversity of products that are embedded in the history and culture of the respective countries of origin. In Japan, they have attracted increasing popularity.
Under these conditions, our Association sees its role not merely in the expansion of consumption but makes every effort to ensure the safety of the products on a full recognition of its social responsibility to the general public. Based on this awareness, it is committed to the wider diffusion of imported wines and spirits, the further expansion of demand and the provision of information from overseas.
Our Association will do all it can to contribute to the future development of imported wines and spirits and should be pleased for your ongoing support, cooperation and patronage.

Establishment of the Association

◆ Establishment of the Association
Our Association was founded in April 1959 as a trade organization of businesses specializing in imported wines and spirits. Its main purpose is to promote the development of the imported wine and spirits market and to take the appropriate actions to respond to commercial problems with overseas countries.  Since its foundation, the Association has persistently tried to come to terms with the changing pattern of the industry by endeavoring to balance the interests of government and the organizations concerned for the ongoing development of the imported wines and spirits industry.

◆ Regions covered by the Association   The JWSIA is a nationwide organization covering all regions of Japan. Its Office is located in Nihonbashi-Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

◆ Symbol Mark of the Association   Using an imported alcohol bottle as its motif, the symbol mark uses the letter I for IMPORTER. (This mark was established in March 1988.)
JWSIA

WSIA is the Association's abbreviated name in English,
and its Japanese naming is :  Nihon Youshu Yunyu Kyokai. 

Main Activities of the Association

The Association engages in the following main activities:

(1) Diffusion and advertising of imported wine and spirits.

(2) Overseas and domestic business research on imported wine and spirits and information exchange.

(3) Coordinating and negotiating with the exporting countries and the related organizations with regard to imported wine and spirits (including the embassies of the various countries concerned in Japan and the relevant organizations)

(4) Submitting opinions in response to inquiries by the competent government agencies.
・Tariff system and requests for revising and reforming the tariff system and liquor tax system.
・Responding to social demands such as environmental issues
 (including problems such as label indications and the recycling of packaging and containers)

(5) Notification of amended legislation passed by the competent government agencies to the Association members.

(6) Cooperation with the competent government agencies on the elimination of the illegal import and illegal distribution of imported wine and spirits.

(7) Miscellaneous activities.

Organizational Structure of Association

Organizational Structure of Association
1 General Meeting - Board of Auditors - Board of Director - Committees
2 Deliberation Group on Fair Trade in Imported Wine and Spirits

● General Meeting - Board of Auditors - Board of Director - Committees

General Meeting・・・
There are Regular General Meetings (held in May) and Extraordinary General Meetings held when necessary. At these General Meetings discussions take place to decide and determine important matters such as the establishment of statutes, the review or abolition, determination of the revenue and expenses budget, and approving the settlement of accounts.

Board of Director・・・
Composed of (19) Director, the Board of Directors convenes, in principle, once every month (except for August and December) to deliberate on a range of issues. It consists of one Chairman of the Board, two Deputy Chairmen, 15 Director, and Managing Directors who are permanently employed.

Board of Auditors・・・
Consists of (three) auditors. Their task is to audit the financial statement (settlement of accounts).

Committees・・・
There are seven committees each of which has its own particular area of responsibility. Each committee consists of 8 to 11 Director. Committee sessions are held whenever appropriate in accordance with the agenda.
(1) Tax measures Committee
(2) Finance Committee
(3) Whisky and Brandy Committee
(4) Wine Committee
(5) Beer, Spirits and Liqueurs Committee
(6) PR Committee
(7) Container and Packaging Committee
(8) Future vision Committee
(9) Lot nuumber issues Committee

● Deliberation Group on Fair Trade in Imported Wine and Spirits
The business of the Deliberation Group on Fair Trade in Imported Wines and Spirits relates to "gift rules" (imported wines and spirits sales business) and to "label indication rules" approved by the Fair Trade Commission. It consists of the Committee Chairman (Chairman of the Board of Director), the Deputy Chairman Executive Director) and 11 members.
(1) Rules on fair competition relating to the limitations on providing special trade gifts or offers (trade gifts) in the sale of wine and spirits.
(2) Rules on fair competition relating to the label indication of imported whisky.
(3) Rules on fair competition relating to imported beer labels.

Infomation About Joining the Association

(1) Qualifying Conditions for Membership
Only importers with an established record in the wines and spirits importing business and persons (corporate and private) with a license for the sale of wines and spirits qualify for membership of the Association.

(2) Procedures for Acquiring Membership
Membership of the Association is open to applicants if they have been recommended by (at least two) members of the Association and their application has been approved by the Board of Director. A fee is payable by new members joining the Association.

(3) Payment of Admission Fee, Membership Fee and Membership Dues
Commencing from the month of joining the Association, members are liable to pay admission fees, membership fees, and membership dues. The Association's accounting (fiscal) year is the one-year period from the first of April to the last day of March of the following year.

Admission fee: 100,000 yen (payable as a lump sum in the month of joining the Association)
Membership fee: 20,000 yen per month (The amount due for a whole year is 240,000 yen payable in two half-yearly installments of 120,000 yen each.)
Membership dues: The membership dues are calculated in accordance with the volume of imported wines and spirits sold by using a fixed formula.
(The amount of dues for a whole year is payable in two half-yearly installments of half the amount calculated for the entire year.

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