1806 Private importation of drugs, cosmetics, etc. (FAQ) : Japan Customs

The Pharmaceutical Affairs Law provides that the importation of drugs, quasi-drugs, cosmetics or medical equipments for the purpose of business activities is only granted for those persons who have the business license for importation and sale of those goods issued by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

However, when you desire to privately import those goods for your personal use or consumption, importation shall be granted without the said license, provided that the import volume is within a permitted scope. See below for specific permitted scopes.

» Drugs and quasi-drugs
	Volume of two-month’s consumption or less (Within one-month’s consumption or less, in case of poisons and powerful medicines)
		*24 pieces or less of normal sizes per item, in case of medicines for external use (excluding special instruction-required medicines and troches)
» Cosmetics
	24 pieces or less of normal sizes per item
» Medical equipments
	1）Minimum unit (one unit), as far as they are for home use by the non-licensed general public
		ex. electric massage equipment, clinical thermometers.
	２）contact lenses (Within two-month’s consumption in case of disposable contact lenses)

Please note that body (hand) soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, hair dye, bath preparations, etc. fall under the category of quasi-drugs or cosmetics. Also, veterinary drugs, etc. are subject to import restrictions in accordance with the Pharmaceutical Law. For information on the outline of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law,please refer to the code #1805 "Requirement of the Customs confirmation concerning import restrictions in accordance with the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law."

For more details, please contact a special pharmaceutical inspector in a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare.

(Article 70 of the Customs Law, item 1, section 3, paragraph 70 of the General Notification of the Customs Law, and Article 12 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law)

[Inquiries]

Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare Tel: +81- 048-740-0800	(Items cleared through Hakodate/Tokyo/Yokohama Customs)
Kinki Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare Tel: +81- 06-6942-4096	(Items cleared through Nagoya Customs and to the west (other than Okinawa Regional Customs))
Okinawa Narcotics Control Office, Kyushu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare Tel: +81- 098-854-2584	(Items cleared through Okinawa Regional Customs)

[Reference]　Website of Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare 　 http://kouseikyoku.mhlw.go.jp/

[Inquiries on pharmaceutical for animal treatment/diagnosis]

Animal Products Safety Division
Food Safety and Consumer Affairs
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Tel: +81-3-3502-8111 (ex. 4531)