CONTENTS 1. Laws and Regulations at the Time of Importation (1) Overview Q 1 What types of foods are imported into Japan?............................................................................................ 3 Q 2 Can any type of food be imported into Japan? ........................................................................................... 5 Q 3 Can anyone import foods into Japan?......................................................................................................... 7 Q 4 Could you explain about the sequence of food import procedures? ........................................................... 9 Q 5 Can import procedures be completed at any Japanese port of entry?....................................................... 13 Q 6 Under which statutes are the import procedures for foods required? ....................................................... 15 Q 7 Is there any office that deals with complaints regarding the food import procedure process? ................. 17 (2) Issues Related to the Food Sanitation Law 1) Procedures Q 8 Why are the procedures required under the Food Sanitation Law?.......................................................... 19 Q 9 Is an import notification required for all foods? Is it also required for non-food products?..................... 21 Q 10 Could you explain about the procedures required under the Food Sanitation Law? ................................ 23 Q 11 What documentation is required under provisions of the Food Sanitation Law? ..................................... 27 Q 12 Could you explain how to fill out the “Notification Form for Importation of Foods, etc.”? .................... 29 Q 13 Where should the “Notification Form for Importation of Foods, etc.” be submitted?.............................. 33 Q 14 Who performs the procedures under provisions of the Food Sanitation Law?......................................... 35 Q 15 What types of documentary examinations and cargo inspections are performed under provisions of the Food Sanitation Law?......................................................................................................................... 37 Q 16 What happens to cargo that fails inspection?............................................................................................ 39 Q 17 Are Food Sanitation Law procedures required even when a food is being imported for use as an ingredient? ........................................................................................................................................... 41 Q 18 Is packaging for foods also subject to inspection? ................................................................................... 43 Q 19 Is a notification required even when the same food is already imported by another company?............... 45 Q 20 Is a notification required if the food is being imported on a sample basis?.............................................. 47 Q 21 Is a notification required if the food is being imported to exhibit at a trade fair?..................................... 49 Q 22 Is a notification required if someone imports food as an individual?....................................................... 51 Q 23 Could you explain what procedures are required when importing foods by overseas mail?.................... 53 Q 24 Could you explain what procedures are required for foods imported in personal possession?................. 57 2) Specifications and Standards based on the Food Sanitation Law Q 25 What sorts of specifications and standards have been defined under the Food Sanitation Law? ............. 59 Q 26 What types of regulation does the Food Sanitation Law impose on food additives? ............................... 61 Q 27 Could you explain about the standards that apply to residual agricultural chemicals?............................. 63 Q 28 Could you explain about residual standards for veterinary pharmaceuticals? .......................................... 65 3) Programs and Methods to Expedite and Simplify Import Procedure Q 29 What ways are there to expedite the import procedural process?............................................................. 67 Q 30 Is it possible to have the documentary examination carried out before the cargo arrives?....................... 69 Q 31 Is a notification required every time when importing the same food many times a year?........................ 71 Q 32 What does it mean for a product to be identical and thus eligible for planned import system?................ 73 Q 33 Could you explain about the voluntary inspection for compliance with the specifications and standards defined by the Food Sanitation Law? ................................................................................ 75 Q 34 Is an inspection result statement prepared by foreign laboratories valid? ................................................ 81 Q 35 Is an inspection result statement required every time when importing the same food and related products? .................................................................................................................................................. 85 Q 36 Could you explain about the method for simplifying the procedural process by registering the manufacturing method, etc.?............................................................................................................... 87 Q 37 Could you explain how a foreign manufacturer can register an item in advance? ................................... 89 Q 38 Could you explain how to simplify procedure using programs administered by the Association for the Safety of Imported Food, Japan? ................................................................................................ 91 Q 39 Could you describe the computerization of import procedures? .............................................................. 93 4) Inquiries Q 40 Could you give me contacts for more information about import procedures, specifications and standards under the Food Sanitation Law?............................................................................................... 95 Q 41 What type of information should we collect before making an inquiry about import procedures? .......... 99 (3) Issues Related to the Animal Quarantine Q 42 What types of foods are subject to animal quarantine requirements?..................................................... 101 Q 43 Could you explain about the animal quarantine procedures? ................................................................. 105 Q 44 What type of inspection is carried out during animal quarantine?.......................................................... 107 Q 45 Could you give me contacts for more information about animal quarantine? ........................................ 109 (4) Issues Related to the Plant Quarantine Q 46 What types of foods are subject to plant quarantine requirements?.........................................................111 Q 47 Could you explain about the plant quarantine procedures? .....................................................................113 Q 48 What type of inspection is performed during plant quarantine?..............................................................115 Q 49 How is sterilization (fumigation) performed during plant quarantine? ...................................................117 Q 50 Could you give me contacts for more information about plant quarantine?............................................119 (5) Issues Related to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law Q 51 What types of foods are subject to import restrictions?.......................................................................... 121 Q 52 What foods are designated as import quota items?................................................................................. 123 Q 53 Could you explain how to apply for an import quota allocation for import quota items? ...................... 125 Q 54 What types of foods require an application for an import license?......................................................... 127 Q 55 Could you explain about the procedure for applying for an import license?.......................................... 129 Q 56 What types of foods are subject to prior confirmation requirements, and what procedures must be followed? .................................................................................................................................. 131 Q 57 Are processed foods made from import quota items also treated as import quota items? ...................... 133 (6) Issues Related to the Tariffs and Consumption Tax Q 58 Could you explain what taxes (tariffs, consumption tax, etc.) are due on imported products?............... 135 Q 59 Could you explain how to read and interpret the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan? .......................... 137 Q 60 Could you explain about primary tariff quotas under the tariff quota system?....................................... 139 Q 61 If the return or destruction is judged to be unavoidable, can the importer get a refund on tariffs paid at the time of import?...................................................................................................................... 141 Q 62 Could you give me contacts for more information about tariffs and tariff rates? ................................... 143 2. Laws and Regulations that Apply at the Time of Sale (1) Overview Q 63 What is required generally in order to sell imported foods in Japan?..................................................... 145 Q 64 What type