Food supplements & preparations export rules: Japan

Rules to check before you export food supplements & preparations to Japan (3), each with its official source.

Official sources checked between 2026-10-09 and 2026-10-14

Duty and FTAs: No Korea–Japan FTA: the RCEP rate (Korea column) needs an RCEP certificate of origin. customs.go.jp, checked 2026-10-09

This is not legal or tax advice. Rules and rates change, so confirm with the official source and a local authority, your importer or an expert before you sell.

• Main rule for food supplements & preparations: Sold as food; function claims need 'Foods with Function Claims' notification. caa.go.jp, checked 2026-10-09
• Japan allergen labelling: Packaged food sold in Japan must name, in Japanese, each of the 9 specified allergens it contains: shrimp, cashew (added 1 Apr 2026 with a two-year transition), crab, walnut, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk and peanut; 20 more, such as sesame, soybean and squid, are recommended. An allergen label only in Korean or English breaks Japan's Food Labelling Act. Seafood products, seaweed included, can pick up shrimp or crab during harvest or processing: if that happens often or in quantity, add a Japanese precautionary statement (vague 'may contain' wording is not allowed). Give your importer the full ingredient specification. Done with your importer · caa.go.jp, checked 2026-10-14
• Japan import quota for laver and kelp: Laver and kelp products (dried laver, seasoned laver without sugar, laver preparations, kombu and kombu preparations) are under Japan’s seafood import quota: every shipment needs a METI import approval backed by a quota your Japanese importer is allocated in the yearly application window. For seasoned laver from Korea the FY2025 quota was 642 million sheets, most of it for trading companies with past imports, and snack shapes count 3 g as one sheet. Ask buyers whether they hold quota before you quote. Your importer does it · meti.go.jp, checked 2026-10-14
• Applies to every product here: Japan: consumption tax on cross-border sales
• Applies to every product here: Japan: ‘No.1’ and satisfaction claims need a fair survey
• Open the checklist
• Work out the export price
• Same product, other countries: United States
• Same product, other countries: Malaysia
• Same product, other countries: India
• Same country, other products: Cosmetics
• Same country, other products: Instant noodles & pasta
• Same country, other products: Toys
• Same country, other products: Leather apparel & accessories
• Same country, other products: Pet food & feed
• Sources: caa.go.jp, checked 2026-10-09
• Sources: caa.go.jp, checked 2026-10-14
• Sources: meti.go.jp, checked 2026-10-14
• Sources: customs.go.jp, checked 2026-10-09

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