Import Regulations & Standards
The import regulations imposed by the countries time to time to ensure Food Safety and Quality assurance includes non Tariff barriers for the various food products.
| S.No. | Circulation Date | Country | Report Title | Report Highlights | View Regulations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 OCT 2024 | Japan | FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual | This report was prepared by FAS/Tokyo Staff for U.S. exporters of domestic food and agricultural products. | Click here |
| 2 | 16 OCT 2024 | Japan | FAIRS Country Report Annual | This report provides an overview of Japan regulations and standards for foods and agricultural products. For more information on Japan certification requirements, see the FAIRS Export Certificate Report for Japan. | Click here |
| 3 | 02 NOV 2023 | Japan | FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products from the United States to Japan | Click here |
| 4 | 13 OCT 2023 | Japan | FAIRS Annual Country Report Annual | This report was prepared by the Office of Agricultural Affairs (OAA) of the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service in Tokyo, Japan for U.S. exporters of domestic food and agricultural products. While every possible care has been taken in preparation of this report, information provided may not be completely accurate, either because policies have changed since its preparation or because clear and consistent information about these policies was not available | Click here |
| 5 | 07 OCT 2022 | Japan | FAIRS Export Certificate Report | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products from the United States to Japan | Click here |
| 6 | 16 MAY 2022 | Japan | Japan Designates the First Imported Marine Species to Require Catch Documents | On April 26, 2022, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries designated mackerel, Pacific saury, sardine, squid and cuttlefish as vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. From December 1, 2022, Japan will require catch certificates to import products containing these species as a main ingredient. | Click here |
| 7 | 04 APR 2022 | Japan | : COOL for Main Ingredient Requirements Now in Force | On April 1, 2022, processed food manufactures in Japan must be in compliance with new country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements. The new rule requires Japanese food manufacturers to identify on the label of the product the country(ies) where the main ingredient, by weight, was harvested or produced. This requirement applies only to Japanese food processors and manufactures. Imported processed foods are exempt (only the country of manufacture of the finished product will continue to be required). Japanese importers bear so | Click here |
| 8 | 21 SEP 2021 | Japan | Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report | This report is an overview and update of Japan's food and agricultural import regulations and standards (FAIRS) | Click here |
| 9 | 19 JUL 2021 | Japan | 242nd Food Safety Group | On July 16, 2021, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 11 agricultural chemicals (MCPA, MCPB, Captan, Cyazofamid, Pyriofenone, Fluoxastrobin, Procymidone, Mandestrobin, Cypermethrin, Albendazole, and Zeranol) for various agricultural commodities. | Click here |
| 10 | 26 APR 2021 | Japan | Japan Lifted Aflatoxin Inspection Order on Walnuts | On April 1, 2021, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) suspended a mandatory aflatoxin inspection regime imposed on walnuts from the United States and other exporting countries. | Click here |
| 11 | 05 APR 2021 | Japan | MAFF Announces Dairy TRQs for JFY 2021 | On April 1, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) announced tariff-rate quota (TRQ) volumes for dairy products that will be open during Japanese fiscal year (JFY) 2021 (April to March). | Click here |
| 12 | 25 MAR 2021 | Japan | Japan To Begin Enforcement of Organic Regulations for Turkey Products | From July 25, 2021, Japan’s organic standards for livestock products will encompass turkey products. | Click here |
| 13 | 16 MAR 2021 | Japan | Tariffs on US Beef Rise as USJTA Safeguard Triggers | On March 17, Japan Customs announced that Japan’s imports of U.S. beef surpassed the annual trigger safeguard volume established under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA). | Click here |
| 14 | 03 FEB 2021 | Japan | Japan Lowers Planned Butter and NFDM Imports for 2021 | On January 29, the Japanese government announced that it would reduce planned imports of butter to 6,400 metric tons (MT) in Japanese fiscal year (JFY) 2021 from 14,000 MT the previous year while maintaining nonfat dry milk imports at 750 MT. | Click here |
| 15 | 15 JAN 2021 | Japan | : Government Supports Freezing Imported Beef Prior to Customs Clearance | On January 1, the Government of Japan introduced a new payment scheme for Japanese importers to postpone customs clearance of imported chilled beef between January 1 and June 30. | Click here |
| 16 | 07 JAN 2021 | Japan | Japan to Require Catch Documents for Imports of Vulnerable Marine Species | On December 4, 2020, Japan passed the Adjustment for the Domestic Distribution of Specified Marine Animals and Plants Act to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. | Click here |
| 17 | 06 JAN 2021 | Japan | Japan-UK Free Trade Agreement Enters into Force | On January 1, the Japan-UK Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force. | Click here |
| 18 | 05 JAN 2021 | Japan | Japan 238th Food Safety Group Announcements | On December 25, 2020, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for three pesticides (Cyflumetofen, Tiadinil, and Thiencarbazonemethyl) and a veterinary drug, Dichloroisocyanuric acid. | Click here |
| 19 | 17 DEC 2020 | Japan | USJTA TRQs Remain Underutilized in First Half of JFY 2020 | The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA), which entered into force on January 1, 2020, improved market access for U.S. products through the creation of tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for food wheat. | Click here |
| 20 | 01 DEC 2020 | Japan | Japanese Standards for Raw Oyster Imports | Fresh oyster imports to Japan must comply with Japan’s (i) Specific Standard for Oysters for Raw Consumption and (ii) Handling of Toxic Shellfish Contaminated with Paralytic and Diarrheal Shellfish Poison. | Click here |
| 21 | 18 NOV 2020 | Japan | Guidance on Shipping Individual Small-Sized Samples to Japanese Buyers | The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reduction in large trade shows where buyers generally sample and research new food and beverage products. | Click here |
| 22 | 13 NOV 2020 | Japan | Japan 237th Food Safety Group | Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for Ethaboxam, Tioxazafen, Fenbuconazole | Click here |
| 23 | 05 NOV 2020 | Japan | Policies and Procedures for Genome Edited Food and Agricultural Products | The Government of Japan has completed and published guidelines for handling food and agricultural products derived from genome editing technology. | Click here |
| 24 | 27 OCT 2020 | Japan | Japan Grants Market Access for All Varieties of US In-Shell Walnuts | From September 16, 2020, Japan allows imports of all varieties of U.S. in-shell walnuts to Japan. | Click here |
| 25 | 19 OCT 2020 | Japan | Overview of Aflatoxin-related Import Regulations in Japan | This report summarizes the legal basis for Japan’s aflatoxin regulations for imported agricultural products. | Click here |
| 26 | 09 OCT 2020 | Japan | Japan Revised Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements for Agricultural Products | On August 5, 2020, Japan revised the list of agricultural imports that require a phytosanitary certificate (PC). | Click here |
| 27 | 30 SEP 2020 | Japan | Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products from the United States to Japan. | Click here |
| 28 | 30 SEP 2020 | Japan | Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report | This report is an overview and update of Japan’s food and agricultural import regulations and standards (FAIRS). | Click here |
| 29 | 28 SEP 2020 | Japan | MAFF Lowers Planned Butter Imports by 30 Percent | On September 25, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) announced that it would lower planned imports of butter to 14,000 metric tons (MT) for Japanese fiscal year (JFY) 2020. | Click here |
| 30 | 03 JAN 2020 | Japan | Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products from the United States to Japan. | Click here |
| 31 | 03 JAN 2020 | Japan | Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report | This report is an overview and update of Japan’s food and agricultural import regulations and standards (FAIRS) for U.S. agricultural exports to Japan. | Click here |
| 32 | 21 DEC 2018 | Japan | Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report | This report is an overview and update of Japan’s general legal and technical requirements for food and agricultural imports. U.S. food and agricultural suppliers to Japan are recommended to consult with local importers and appropriate U.S. regulatory agencies for the most current local requirements prior to shipping. For more information on Japan’s certificate requirements, see FAS/Japan’s Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards 2018 FAIRS Export Certificate Report at http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Pages/Default.aspx. | Click here |
| 33 | 20 DEC 2018 | Japan | Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products to Japan. | Click here |
| 34 | 15 DEC 2017 | Japan | Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Narrative | This report is an overview of Japan’s general legal and technical requirements for food and agricultural imports. While all sections of this report have been updated, the following sections have seen substantive revisions from the 2016 FAIRS report: Section V. Labeling Requirements, Section VI. Other Specific Standards, and Section X. Copyrights and/or Trademark Laws. | Click here |
| 35 | 15 DEC 2017 | Japan | Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Certification | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products to Japan. For more information on import requirements, see Japan Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Narrative Report of December 2017. | Click here |
| 36 | 22 DEC 2016 | Japan | Japan : Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Narrative | This report is an overview of Japan’s general legal and technical requirements for food and agricultural imports. While all sections of this report have been updated, the following sections have seen substantive revisions from the 2015 FAIRS report: Section II. Food Additives Regulations, Section V. Labeling Requirements, and Section VI. Other Specific Standards. | Click here |
| 37 | 21 DEC 2016 | Japan | Japan : Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Certification | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products to Japan. For more information on import requirements, see Japan Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report of December 2016. | Click here |
| 38 | 21 DEC 2016 | Japan | Canada : Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards – Export Certification | The report identifies export certificates issued by U.S. government authorities to comply with Canadian import standards and regulations or to attest those products subject to U.S. government regulation. This report serves as a supplement to the Food and Agricultural Importation Regulation Narrative Report (FAIRS/CA16058). | Click here |
| 39 | 22 DEC 2014 | Japan | Japan : Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Certification | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products to Japan. For more information on import requirements, see Japan Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report of December 2014. | Click here |
| 40 | 22 DEC 2014 | Japan | Japan : Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Narrative | All sections have been updated, and a new section (VII. Facility and Product Registration) has been added. | Click here |
| 41 | 19 DEC 2013 | Japan | Japan Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Certification | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products to Japan. For more information on import requirements, see Japan Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report of December 19, 2013. | Click here |
| 42 | 04 JAN 2013 | Japan | Japan Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Certification | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products to Japan. For more information on import requirements, see Japan Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report of January 4, 2013. | Click here |
| 43 | 04 JAN 2013 | Japan | Japan Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Narrative | Updated Sections: I. Food Laws; II. Labeling Requirements; IV. Food Additives Regulations; V. Pesticides and Other Contaminants; VI. Other Regulations and Requirements; VII. Other Specific Standards. | Click here |
| 44 | 17 DEC 2010 | Japan | Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Certification | This report lists major export certificates required by the Japanese government to export food and agricultural products to Japan. For more information on import requirements, see Japan Food Agriculture Import Requirements and Standards Country Report of December 17. | Click here |