1801 Outline of other relevant laws and ordinances referred to by Customs (FAQ) : Japan Customs

  Certain import goods are considered as having the potential to adversely affect our domestic economy, public health/sanitation, or public safety and morals, and therefore import restrictions are being imposed on those goods in accordance with the relevant Japanese law or ordinance.

  Introduction of the restrictions pursuant to laws or ordinances are interrelated with the import license systems stipulated by the Customs Law, so as to secure the effectiveness of the restrictions.

  Therefore, when it is necessary to obtain any license, authorization, etc. required by any other law or ordinance than customs-related laws for importing goods, you have to submit to Customs, at the time of import declaration or at the time of examination or the inspection necessary for import declaration, the evidence that you have obtained all of the required licenses, authorizations, etc. Without Customs confirmation of such evidence, import permit will not be given.

  Some laws/ordinances require importers to submit certain certificates issued by a foreign authority in order to obtain necessary license/authorization for importation. Therefore, importers should make sure, in advance, of what documents are necessary for submission.

(Article 70 of the Customs Law, and item 1, section 3, paragraph 70 of the General Notification of the Customs Law)

List of import-related laws and regulations

"Other laws and ordinances" are defined as those other than customs-related laws/ordinances which specify the necessary licenses, authorizations, etc. concerning exportation or importation.

Name of the laws	Major items subject to the laws	Supervising government agencies
Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law Import Trade Order	Import quota items (herring) Para. 2 approved items (whale silk) Prior confirmed items (vaccine)	Trade Control Policy Division, Trade Control Department, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Law concerning Wildlife Protection and Hunting	Bird species and their by-products, animals and their by-products, bird eggs	Wildlife Division, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment
Firearms and Swords Possessive Control Law	Pistol, imitation pistol, rifle, machine gun, shotgun, airgun; Sword with over a 15cm blade length, spear, halberd, sword with over a 5.5cm blade length, dagger and switch knife, etc.	Safety Division, Community Safety Bureau, National Police Agency
Regulation of Revenue Stamps and Counterfeiting Law	Object that could be mistaken for Revenue Stamps	Consumption Tax Office, Taxation Management Division, National Tax Agency
Poisonous and Deleterious Substance Control Law	Poisonous and deleterious substances	Evaluation and Licensing Division, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Cannabis Control Law	Cannabis plant and articles thereof	Compliance and Narcotics Division, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Stimulant Drug Control Law	Stimulant drugs, raw materials for producing stimulant drugs
Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law	Narcotics, psychotropic substances
Opium Law	Opium, poppy straw
Pharmaceutical Affairs Law	Pharmaceutical, pharmaceutical-related items, cosmetics, medical equipment, designated substance; Pharmaceutical, pharmaceutical-related items and medical devices for animal treatment/diagnosis	Compliance and Narcotics Division, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Animal Products Safety Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Fisheries Resources Conservation Law	Koi (Carp), goldfish and other Carassius, silver carp, big head carp, grass carp, black chinese roach, salmon eyed egg and fry, and Penaeus fry	Fish and Fishery Products Safety Office, Animal Health and Animal Products Safety Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Fertilizer Control Law	Fertilizer	Plant Products Safety Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Agricultural Chemicals Regulation Law	Agricultural chemicals	Plant Products Safety Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Law Concerning Sugar and Starch Price Stabilization	Sugar and Starch	Regional Agricultural Production Division, Crop Production Department, Agricultural Production Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Provisional Measures Law for Processed Raw Milk Producer Subsidies	Butter, non-fat powdered milk and condensed milk	Milk and Dairy Products Division, Livestock Industry Department, Agricultural Production Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Law for Stabilization of Supply-Demand and Price of Staple Food	Rice grains (rice, rice flour, rice cake, etc.), wheat and barley (products processed/regulated wheat, barley, or rye)	Grain Trade Division, Staple Food Department, General Food Policy Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Explosives Control Law	Explosives, explosive compounds, articles processed by heat (fuse, etc.)	Industrial Safety Division, Agency for Nuclear and Industrial Safety, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
High Pressure Gas Safety Law	High pressure gas
Law Concerning Screening of Chemical Substances and Regulations on their Manufacture, etc.	Chemical substance	Chemical Management Policy Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Law of the Quality Control of Gasoline and Other Fuels	Volatile oil, kerosene, and light oil	Petroleum Refining and Reserve Division, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
Regulation of Postal Stamps and Counterfeiting Law	Objects that could be mistaken for postal stamps	Postal Policy Planning Division, Postal Services Policy Planning Bureau, Posts and Telecommunications, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Alcohol Business Law	Alcohol with alcoholic content of 90 percent and above	Alcohol Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Food Sanitation Law	All food and drink, food additives, tableware, containers/wrapping, and toys	Quarantine Center Administration Office, Planning Information Division, Safety Department, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Plant Quarantine Law	Flowering (phanerogamous) plant, pteridophyte, bryophyte, harmful plants (bacillus, parasite, etc.), harmful animals (various insects and mites, etc.)	Plant Protection Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Rabies Prevention Law	Dogs, cats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks	Animal Health Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control Law	Even-toed ungulate, horses, poultry (chickens, ducks), rabbits, bees and these meats, sausage, ham and rice straw.
Laws Concerning the Prevention of Infections and Medical Treatment for Infected Persons	Monkey, prairie dogs, etc.	Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases Control Division, Health Service Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Animal Health Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Enforcement of Invasive Alien Species Act	Black bass, Snapping Turtle, etc.	Wildlife Division, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment