Japan food import notification: Food Sanitation Act Article 27 procedure

Food, food additives, apparatus, containers and packaging, and toys for infants imported into Japan for sale or business use must be notified to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare each time they are imported. The importer files the notification with the quarantine station for the port, the station checks the documents and may inspect the cargo, and Customs releases the goods only after seeing the completed notification.

Checked against official sources: 2026-10

At a glance

LawFood Sanitation Act, Article 27 (import notification); Japan Customs also cites Article 62

Covered goodsFood, food additives, apparatus, containers and packaging, and toys for infants, for sale or business use

Who filesThe importer, for each import

WhereThe MHLW quarantine station responsible for the port of import, on paper or electronically

WhenBefore customs clearance is completed

Health certificateNeeded for meat and poultry products, milk and milk products, oysters eaten raw and pufferfish

Customs checkCustoms confirms the notification sealed by a food sanitation inspector before granting import permission (Customs Law Article 70)

ExceptionsGoods for personal use, or for testing or experiments

How the notification works

Under Article 27 of the Food Sanitation Act, an importer must notify the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare every time it imports food, food additives, apparatus, or containers and packaging for sale or business use; toys for infants are covered too. The notification goes to the quarantine station responsible for the port of import, or, for postal items, the port where the item is stored, either on paper or through the electronic system after registering in advance.

Postal imports for sale or business use must also be notified. Goods imported without notification cannot be sold or used in business, and the notification must be completed before customs clearance ends.

What the quarantine station checks

The country of export, the product, the manufacturer and the manufacturing site
Ingredients, manufacturing methods and the use of food additives
Compliance with manufacturing and additive standards and the absence of poisonous or hazardous substances
The manufacturer's past sanitation record
Cargo with many past violations, or pufferfish, may be inspected under the inspection order system, public inspection or other inspections

Result and customs clearance

If the goods pass, the quarantine station returns the notification with a seal certifying completion, often called the certificate of notification, and the importer presents it to Customs, which confirms it before granting import permission. If the goods fail, they cannot be imported into Japan; the station explains the violation and the importer must follow its instructions.

Meat and poultry products, milk and milk products, oysters to be eaten raw and pufferfish need a health certificate issued by the exporting country's government in the agreed format. Simplified and expedited import systems exist, and quarantine stations offer prior consultation.

Step by step

Confirm with your Japanese importer that the product is food, a food additive, apparatus, food packaging or a toy for infants imported for sale or business use.
Send the importer the ingredients, manufacturing method, additives used and manufacturer details the quarantine station will check.
Arrange a government health certificate if the product is meat or poultry, dairy, raw-consumption oysters or pufferfish.
The importer files the Notification Form for Importation of Foods with the quarantine station for the port, before customs clearance.
After any inspection, the importer presents the sealed notification to Customs to get import permission.

Documents you usually need

Notification Form for Importation of Foods, etc.
Ingredient list and manufacturing process description
Health certificate from the exporting country's government (meat, poultry, dairy, raw oysters, pufferfish)
Commercial invoice and transport documents for customs
Inspection results, where an inspection is ordered

Common problems and how to avoid them

Food arrives in Japan and the importer has not notified the quarantine station.

What to do: Goods without notification cannot be sold or used in business; file the notification before customs clearance is completed.

A dairy product ships without a government health certificate.

What to do: Milk and milk products, meat and poultry products, raw oysters and pufferfish need a health certificate in the agreed format.

The importer cannot answer the station's questions on additives.

What to do: Give the importer the full ingredient list, manufacturing method and additive details in advance.

Food packaging or kitchenware is shipped without notification.

What to do: Apparatus and containers and packaging are covered too when imported for sale or business use.

Sources

Import Procedure under Food Sanitation Act Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Japan
1802 Customs confirmation requirements concerning import restrictions in accordance with the Food Sanitation Law Japan Customs

Rules change often. This note is practical guidance based on the sources above, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the authority, your importer or a licensed customs broker before you ship.

Port codes by country

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Trade notes

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Common questions

Which products need a food import notification in Japan?

Food, food additives, apparatus, containers and packaging, and toys for infants imported for sale or business use.

Who files the notification?

The importer, each time it imports, at the quarantine station responsible for the port of import.

Do personal imports need a notification?

No. Goods for personal use, or for testing or experiments, do not need one; check with a quarantine station if unsure.

What does Customs need to see?

The notification returned by the quarantine station with a seal certifying completion.

What if the goods fail the check?

They cannot be imported into Japan; the station explains the violation and the importer must follow its instructions.

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