Export rules for Japan by product

What to check before you export to Japan, by product. Every line has its official source and check date. Covers Cosmetics, Instant noodles & pasta, Food supplements & preparations, Toys, Leather apparel & accessories, Pet food & feed.

Official sources checked between 2026-10-15 and 2026-11-04

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.

• Cosmetics: Needs a Japanese marketing-authorisation holder; sunscreen/whitening claims may make it a quasi-drug needing approval
• Instant noodles & pasta: Food Sanitation Act import notification for each shipment, filed by the importer at the quarantine station, and Japanese labelling under the Food Labeling Act with the importer named on the label; you supply the full ingredient list (additives included) and process details for both
• Food supplements & preparations: Sold as food; function claims need 'Foods with Function Claims' notification
• Toys: Since 25 Dec 2025, toys for children under 3 need the child PSC mark (the importer notifies METI); retailers still expect the voluntary ST mark; Food Sanitation Act for toys for infants
• Leather apparel & accessories: Household Goods Quality Labeling Act: leather travel and business bags (not handbags or wallets) and leather apparel and gloves need Japanese labels (material, care, labeller)
• Pet food & feed: Pet Food Safety Act: importer notification and Japanese labels for dog and cat food (name, ingredients, best-before date, importer, origin); animal-quarantine checks for meat-based products
• Japan: consumption tax on cross-border sales: If you ship each order from Korea straight to consumers in Japan (Qoo10, Rakuten or your own web shop), a parcel whose customs value is ¥10,000 or less pays no duty or import consumption tax (for personal-use goods the customs value is 60% of the retail price). Knitwear, leather shoes, leather handbags and suitcases and leather gloves are exceptions, and liquor tax is always due. From 1 April 2028 the 60% rule ends and these sales of items priced ¥10,000 or less before tax carry Japanese consumption tax (10%, 8% for food): the seller files and pays it unless it is a tax-exempt small business, or the marketplace does if Japan's National Tax Agency designates it. Dearer items pay duty and tax on delivery instead. Build the tax into cross-border prices of ¥10,000 or less. Selling through a Japanese importer does not change. Applies from 2028-04-01 · Your company does it · nta.go.jp, checked 2026-10-15
• Japan: ‘No.1’ and satisfaction claims need a fair survey: Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency treats ‘No.1’ claims such as 顧客満足度No.1 as misleading under the Premiums and Representations Act unless a reasonable basis backs them: the survey must compare the main competing products, not just top search results, ask randomly chosen respondents rather than your own customers or staff, and for satisfaction ask people who actually used the products; a fine-print note does not fix it (CAA report, Sep 2024). Many ‘No.1’ badges from image surveys fail this, so use one in ads, Qoo10 or Rakuten pages and creator posts only with a survey that meets it, or state a checkable fact such as a dated sales ranking with its source. Done with your importer · caa.go.jp, checked 2026-11-04

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