Provision of safe and secure productsRelated SDGs
To deliver safe and secure products and services to our customers, we strive to ensure safety and security at every stage of the value chain, provide high-quality products and engage in sound marketing practices.
Specific initiatives
In order to embody our corporate philosophy, the whole Yakult Group is working to ensure quality assurance based on the Yakult Group Basic Quality Policy, which specifies the fundamental policies and promotion system related to quality and safety.
The Yakult Group contributes to the health and happiness of people around the world by offering safe and secure products and services with sincerity.
The Yakult Group works as one to ensure quality control and offers safe, secure, and quality products and reliable and satisfying services at all levels of research, development, procurement, production, logistics, public relations, advertising, and sales.
In addition to compliance with laws, regulations, etc., of the countries and regions where it conducts business, the Yakult Group shall strive to respect cultures and customs and ensure high quality and safety.
The group has established a quality management system complying with global standards in production. It shall adhere to international norms regarding quality and safety and carry out responsible business activities.
Based on the Yakult Group Basic Quality Policy (hereinafter referred to as the “Policy”), concerned departments of the Yakult Group shall conduct audits and other activities and committees including directors shall manage and supervise such activities.
If a quality-related emergency or an issue that may violate related laws, regulations or the Policy occurs, the group shall take swift and appropriate measures based on internal rules such as crisis management regulations.
The Yakult Group shall value communications with customers and other stakeholders and proactively offer appropriate information while aiming to improve quality and safety from the customers’ perspective.
Established: March 30, 2021
We are promoting acquisition of HACCP, ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, Safe Quality Food (SQF) and other certifications for Yakult Honsha plants, bottling companies, marketing companies and Group companies outside Japan. The Zhongli Plant of Yakult Taiwan Co., Ltd. has acquired SQF level-3 certification, the highest level of the SQF program.
The Foshan Plant of Guangzhou Yakult Co., Ltd. acquired HACCP certification in February 2021 and ISO 9001 certification in March 2021.
Status of certificationTo put into practice our company philosophy of contributing to the health and happiness of people around the world, we established an advertising policy emphasizing response to the changing media environment, highly appealing advertising expressions and communication activities in compliance with laws and regulations.
The Yakult Group operates its business globally under the corporate philosophy of “We contribute to the health and happiness of people around the world through pursuit of excellence in life science in general and our research and experience in microorganisms in particular.”
To realize this philosophy, the Group shall increase the engagement of its corporate and product brands with consumers through highly appealing communication policies developed for the changing media environment.
Established: March 30, 2021
In addition, the Yakult Group Advertising Policy includes a section entitled “For Responsible Advertising Activities,” which lists examples of international standards that must be observed and provides details on ensuring compliance.
We have put in place internal rules to ensure appropriate and effective advertising and promotional activities. When producing advertisements, we follow the Yakult Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct and comply with relevant laws and regulations such as the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, Health Promotion Act, Food Labeling Act, and the Act on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Products including Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices to prevent the use of advertisements that mislead or confuse our customers. In addition, all our advertising and promotions undergo external review by various media outlets. We also hold regular workshops for internal staff responsible for advertising to share the latest information and raise awareness to enable the implementation of responsible advertising and promotional activities.
Yakult recognizes that businesses are expected to conduct fair and responsible corporate activities, which also extends to marketing. To carry out ethical and responsible marketing, we have established internal guidelines titled “Points to Note When Creating PR, Advertising or Sales Support Material,” and carry out training for those responsible for creating such material, ensuring that the guidelines are known and followed. These guidelines incorporate relevant laws and regulations, social changes and international human rights regulations, highlighting issues to be aware of and points where mistakes are easily made while creating such materials. They are revised at least once a year.
Additionally, to ensure ethical and responsible marketing, we subject the content of all our media communications, such as via TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, the website, social media sites, transit advertising, leaflets and point-of-purchase advertising, to preliminary screening and internal review by our Public Relations Department.
Similar to when we create advertising, the review confirms whether the contents comply with related laws and industry-led standards;* the information we are promoting is factually accurate and scientifically based in accordance with the Yakult Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct and the Yakult Group Advertising Policy; the expressions we use are free from defamation and discrimination; the contents do not take advantage of minors who lack knowledge or choices; and the contents do not mislead or confuse customers, among other points.
In fiscal 2024, we carried out 1,145 screenings and reviews, constantly making sure to prevent issues from arising.
We established a Basic Policy for Protection and Management of Personal Information following the full enforcement of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information in April 2005. We revised the basic policy when the Act was amended in April 2022, stipulating the items that employees must observe to protect personal information.
We are further promoting efforts to protect personal information by revising our Privacy Policy to include items in response to the legal amendments (such as the publication of additional safety control and other measures and the electronic disclosure of retained personal data), as well as specific provisions on the purpose of use to enable more rigorous management of such information.
The Yakult Group observes relevant laws and regulations, guidelines and other standards and appropriately handles information of customers whereby a specific individual can be identified, such as name, date of birth, address, telephone number, email address and information like driver’s license number containing an individual identification code (hereinafter referred to as “personal information”).
The Yakult Group’s Privacy Policy covers the following items:
Revised April 2022
Please refer to the following URL for the full text the Yakult Group’s Privacy Policy
Yakult Ladies often have the opportunity to handle customer personal information in their line of work, and we enforce rules for the handling of this information through training and handbooks. We remind them that utmost care must be taken never to leak or lose any information received while on duty.
As of the end of 2024, Yakult Europe B.V. has discontinued its centralized customer relationship management (CRM) system and transitioned to a decentralized model in which each national marketing company manages its own CRM independently, beginning in 2025. To ensure compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),* Yakult Europe B.V. has developed internal guidelines and is conducting training sessions for marketing companies in 2025. This initiative aims not only to meet legal requirements but also to strengthen trust-based relationships with customers.
At the consumer information center of Yakult UK Ltd., personal data is not retained; only the content of inquiries and complaints is entered into the database, in full compliance with the GDPR guidelines established by Yakult Europe B.V.
