Prohibited Items to Bring into Japan
Thinking about bringing products into Japan? Every country has customs however depending on the country prohibited objects can be different. Read this article and check what items are prohibited in Japan. Some products you didn’t expect.
1. Plants / Fruits / Vegetables
At first, you may think plants and vegetables aren’t a big deal, however, there are some surprising items.
Japan specifically prohibits fruits, vegetables, and plants from certain countries and regions. For those hoping to bring these goods, there’s a possibility that they may contain harmful vermin that don’t naturally exist in Japan and a high risk of generating great economic losses to our agricultural production if they invade Japan.
See the full list of Prohibited items by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.
Source: http://www.pps.go.jp/english/law/list2.html
2. Meat-Products
Most meat products and animal-derived products are not allowed in Japan. In many countries, there are livestock diseases, and there is a fear of infectious diseases spreading from meat products. However, items with inspection certificates issued by the government agency of the exporting countries are excluded. Info here (linking to Restriction blogs)
The following meat items are prohibited in Japan:
Even-toed ungulates (hoofed animals) such as cows, pigs, goats, sheep and deer, poultry such as chicken, quail, pheasant, ostrich, helmeted guineafowl, turkey, duck and geese, horse, dogs, rabbits and items derived from honey bees.
– Bones, fat, blood, skin, fur, feathers, horns, hoof, and tendon – however this doesn’t apply to leader bags, wool sweaters
– Meat, intestine – raw, frozen, processed products
– Eggs – applies to shells
Raw milk, semen, fertilized egg, unfertilized egg, feces, urine
– Dairy products – excluding portable items 10kg or less that are not for sale or business use
Straw of grains and hay for feed (applies to some regions)
– Beef jerky, ham, sausage, bacon and meat buns are not allowed in Japan.
Source: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/product/import.html
3. Fake Products
Bringing in items that infringe on intellectual property such as fake brands and counterfeit goods is prohibited. If you intentionally import a large quantity of these items, you may be arrested, your goods confiscated, or both. Not only do these products obstruct Japan’s industrial growth, but they also have a possibility of supplying resources to criminal organizations and terrorist groups, For this reason, customs is strengthening their regulation.
This also applies to products such as copied music CDs and animations, and movie and drama DVDs.
Source: https://www.customs.go.jp/mizugiwa/chiteki/pages/ipr_p.pdf
4. Uncensored Adult Videos or Books & Child Pornography
Bringing immoral materials such as uncensored adult media, including videos, magazines and comic books, child pornography, books, drawings, carvings, and other items that may harm Japanese public safety and security is prohibited in Japan.
Sources: https://www.customs.go.jp/english/c-answer_e/kinseihin/2501_e.htm
https://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/prohibit.htm
5. Illegal Drugs
Narcotics such as opium, cocaine, heroin, MDMA, magic mushrooms, stimulant drugs (stimulant drugs contained in an inhaler or items containing stimulant drug ingredients), cannabis, opium smoking paraphernalia and psychotropic drugs are not allowed in Japan —even if they are legal in your home country.. You’ll surely be arrested at any ports in Japan if you’re caught with these prohibited items.
Source: https://www.customs.go.jp/english/canswer_e/sonota/9005_e.htm
6. Items made from CITES-listed Species
Items made from endangered species, and endangered species themselves listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, are prohibited in Japan (for example: tiger fur). If you’re unsure, search the CITES database.
Source: https://www.customs.go.jp/english/c-answer_e/imtsukan/1807_e.htm
7. Counterfeit Money & Credit Cards
If caught bringing counterfeit money, credit cards or marketable securities into Japan, you will be arrested, regardless of where you’re from.
Counterfeit goods and crafts such as currency, securities credit cards are prohibited, also this applies to postage stamps and revenue stamps.
Source: https://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/prohibit.htm
8. Explosives and Chemical Weapon Materials
Explosives such as dynamite and gunpowder are prohibited. Also, drugs specified in Article 2, Paragraph 3 of the Act of Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Regulation of Specified Substances, and Type 1 pathogens specified in Article 6 Paragraph 20 of the Act on Prevention of Infectious Disease and Medical Care for Patients with Infectious Disease and type two pathogens specified in paragraph 21 are prohibited.
Source: https://www.loc.gov/law/help/firearms-control/japan.php
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