Japan: Import (product-based)

Plants and plant products (general)

An import license and a phytosanitary certificate are required for certain plants and perishable items.
Certain fruits and vegetables may not be imported in their raw form.
Apples grown in Washington state and citrus grown in Florida are subject to special regulations.
Peanuts must be free of aflatoxins and must be certified as such.

(Last updated on 2012-03-20)

Plants and plant products, including seeds, for use as food

An import license and a phytosanitary certificate are required for certain plants and perishable items.
Certain fruits and vegetables may not be imported in their raw form.
Apples grown in Washington state and citrus grown in Florida are subject to special regulations.
Peanuts must be free of aflatoxins and must be certified as such.

(Last updated on 2012-03-20)

Animals and animal products (general)

A sanitary inspection certificate is required for shellfish, animals and certain animal products (including meat and viscera).
Eggs and egg products require a health certificate.
An import license is required for certain animals and perishable items.

(Last updated on 2012-03-20)

Animals: Live

An import license is required for certain animals.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Animal products: Dairy

A health certificate is required for eggs and egg products.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Animal products: Meat

A sanitary inspection certificate is required for meat.

General requirements for shipping meat and meat products:

• For importation, meat shipped fresh or frozen requires specified inspection and health certification (e.g., a meat inspection certificate) issued by the government of the country of export. Meat must be free of filth, and must be deemed fit for consumption by health officials in the destination country before release for distribution. Meat that has been processed and packaged in such a way as to prevent spoilage during distribution, is subject to generally applicable requirements for importation of processed foods.
• Endangered species: Meat from animals protected under CITES may not be shipped for commercial purposes. In addition, particular countries may prohibit importation of particular species of meat and/or importation of meat from particular countries due to concerns over disease. Such prohibitions vary and are subject to change on very short notice.
  Important: Some countries have additional protected species that are not listed.
• Transportation: Meat that is temperature controlled cargo (either chill or freeze) must arrive in the destination country with its specified temperature range maintained throughout its transportation. Meat that arrives outside of that temperature range, or that has not been maintained continuously at the specified temperature, or that has spoiled, as determined by health officials in country of import, will be condemned. It must then be destroyed, or else downgraded (e.g., limited to animal consumption, or requiring treatment to kill bacteria before distribution).
• Terrorist threat to food supply: Many nations have implemented measures to protect their human and animal food supply from terrorist sabotage. These measures may require pre-importation registration of the supplier, packer and/or supplier, additional supplier documentation and notice of each shipment within a specified time period prior to shipment and/or importation.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Animal products: Poultry

Eggs and egg products require a health certificate.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Animal products: Seafood

Certain products, including shellfish, require a health certificate.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Animal feed and nutrients

Special labeling requirements apply to pet food.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Endangered species

This country is a member of CITES.
Certain endangered species of plants and animals (and/or items made thereof) may be prohibited or require specialized permits or certificates.
For more detailed information check Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

(Last updated on 2012-04-10)

Food products (general)

An import license is required for perishable items.
Food products may require a Certificate of Analysis.
The use of chemicals and other food additives is severely restricted.
Ingredients of ruminant animal origin are prohibited from use in processed food products.
Food additives are subject to special documentation requirements.
Food products are subject to special labeling requirements including country of origin labeling.
Exporters of food products should confirm the current documentation requirements with their customer in Japan.

(Last updated on 2012-03-20)

Food products: Additives, preservatives

Food products are subject to special labeling requirements including country of origin labeling.

Food additives are subject to special documentation requirements.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Food products: Processed/prepared food

See information under the heading: "Food products (general)".

The use of chemicals and other additives in foods is severely restricted.
Processed food may not contain ingredients derived from ruminant animals.
Food additives are subject to special documentation requirements.

(Last updated on 2012-03-20)

Pharmaceuticals (general)

All products covered by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law must be approved prior to sale. This includes but is not limited to: pharmaceuticals, prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, including certain herbal supplements, veterinary drugs and quasi-drugs; cosmetics, including preparations for skin care, hair care, makeup and fragrances, medical equipment and supplies, including dental equipment and supplies.
Manufacturers (both Japanese and foreign) and distributors of products covered by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, must be licensed by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare prior to marketing their product(s) in Japan.

Special labeling requirements apply to prescription and nonprescription drugs.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Pharmaceuticals: Narcotics, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia

The following imports are prohibited: heroin, cocaine, MDMA (also known as "ecstasy"), opium, cannabis, stimulants, psychotropic substances, and other narcotic drugs (exception: drugs designated by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Ordinance).

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Biologicals

Germs which are likely to be used for bio-terrorism are prohibited.

(Last updated on 2011-11-15)

Chemicals and chemical products (general)

Precursor materials for chemical weapons are prohibited.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Rubber and plastics, and products thereof

Special labeling requirements apply to plastic products.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Machinery and appliances (general)

Special labeling requirements apply to specified machinery and electrical household appliances.

Certification is required for consumer electrical appliances and commercial electrical apparatus.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Machinery and appliances: Electrical (line-powered)

Electrical machinery, electrical household appliances and apparatus are subject to prescribed labeling requirements.

Certification is required for consumer electrical appliances and commercial electrical apparatus.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Machinery and appliances: Electrically battery-powered

Special labeling requirements apply to specific electrical machinery and electrical household appliances.

Certification is required for consumer electrical appliances and commercial electrical apparatus.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Machinery and appliances: Telecommunications equipment, radios, TVs, and RF devices

Generally applicable import requirements for telecommunications equipment:

• Appliances that are connected to line power typically require testing and safety certification by an independent laboratory recognized by destination (import) country. There are also safety standards on batteries, particularly rechargeable batteries, that are shipped included in such devices.
• There are two concerns regarding emissions, which also require testing and safety certification by an independent laboratory recognized by destination (import) country:
• Radio frequency interference (RFI): even radios and TV receivers emit weak signals that can interfere with other devices; transmitters, including very low power devices (e.g., cell phones, portable phones) can also cause interference. There are international and/or national standards limiting spurious radio frequency emissions.
• TVs and computer monitors employing cathode ray tube emit very low level gamma radiation, and are subject to maximum radiation standards. (LED and plasma screens, which have all but replaced CRT TVs, do not emit gamma radiation).
• Labeling for point of sale packaging varies by import country, but typical requirements include:
  • Product description
  • Origin country
  • Certifications as to safety, RFI, possibly radiation
  • Warnings: Require safety warnings concerning shock, and radiation if gamma radiation is emitted
  • General consumer product labeling requirements, such as required language(s), name of manufacturer or distributor and how to contact
  • Intellectual property (IP) protection; counterfeit and mis-branded products prohibited
• Gray market goods restrictions may be in place. Importer may have to provide evidence of right to distribute within country of import, and such documentation should be provided before exportation.
• Some countries now require recycling instructions on these types of products.

For these products it is very important for an exporter to check requirements with a prospective importer before concluding the product sale and certainly before shipping product.

(Last updated on 2012-05-14)

Vehicles (general)

There are a variety of requirements that typically or may apply to the import of automobiles and other highway vehicles and parts thereof, including:

• Safety: Minimum standards and test certification of tires, brakes, electrical systems, headlights, tail lights, safety belts, and crash worthiness, fuel systems/tanks, etc.
• Emissions: Maximum emission standards, a variety of chemicals, which periodically become more strict, and fuel systems/tanks that are sealed.
• Operational design: There may be operational requirements such as the side of the vehicle for the driver position.
• Gray market goods restrictions: Importer may have to provide evidence of right to re-distribute within country of import, and such documentation should be provided before exportation.

(Last updated on 2012-05-14)

Textiles, apparel and other textile articles (general)

A Certificate of Origin is required for raw silk cloth.
Fabrics require country of origin and other special labeling requirements.

For additional information on importing textiles and apparel to Japan see: Textiles, Apparel, Footwear and Travel Goods: Japan.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Textiles and Apparel: Wearing apparel

Textiles are subject to prescribed labeling requirements.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Footwear

Certain leather footwear (HS 6403-6405) is subject to tariff quota.

(Last updated on 2011-07-12)

Arms and ammunition (general)

The following imports are prohibited: firearms, ammunition (bullets), pistols and pistol parts.
Precursor materials for chemical weapons are prohibited.

(Last updated on 2012-03-20)

Explosives

Explosives are prohibited.

(Last updated on 2012-03-20)

Media containing data, including books

Books, drawings, or any other article which may harm public safety or morals, that is, obscene or immoral materials or pornography, are prohibited from importation.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Intellectual property

Any items or articles that infringe upon intellectual property rights are prohibited from importation.

(Last updated on 2011-11-16)

Precious metals, diamonds and gemstones

Rough diamonds may only be imported from countries participating in the Kimberley Process. This is a participating country.
For more information see Diamonds: The Kimberley Process.

(Last updated on 2012-05-16)

Artwork, antiques, cultural artifacts and collectors items

As a member of UNESCO this country is a signatory of the World Heritage Convention, which defines the kind of natural or cultural sites that are to be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List. By signing this Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage.

Illicit Export of Works of Art under the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act allows for stolen objects to be seized if there is documentation of it in a museum or institution of a state party and issues of world cultural and natural heritage are affected.

The UNIDROIT (International Institute for the Unification of Private Law) Convention on Stolen or Illicitly Exported Cultural Objects of 1995 calls for the return of illegally exported cultural objects.

For reference contact: UNESCO Headquarters: 1, rue Miollis; F-75732 Paris Cedex 15; France; tel: +33 145 681000; fax: +33 145 671690

(Last updated on 2012-04-30)