Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Imported Foods Inspection Services Home Page

Japan is a major food importer, with a food self-sufficiency rate of about 40%. Foods are imported from various countries. To ensure the safety of import foods, the MHLW monitors and inspects them at the quarantine stations located at international airports and seaports.

1. Index of Contents

(1) Import Procedure under Food Sanitation Law

(2) Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan
2019 - Development of Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan for FY 2019 (PDF: 2,698KB)
2018 - Development of Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan for FY 2018 (PDF: 223KB)
- An interim report of Inspection results of the imported food monitoring and instruction program in 2018 (PDF: 617KB)
2017 - Development of Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan for FY 2017 (PDF: 226KB)
- Results of Monitoring and Guidance Based on the Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan for FY 2017 (PDF: 864KB)
2016 - Development of Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan for FY 2016 (PDF: 211KB)
- An interim report of Inspection results of the imported food monitoring and instruction program in 2016 (PDF: 4,136KB)
- Results of Monitoring and Guidance Based on the Imported Foods Monitoring and Guidance Plan for FY 2016 (PDF: 1,378KB) 

(3) Inspection Orders
2021 - Implementation of Inspection Orders based on Section 3, Article 26 of the Food Sanitation Law
2020 - Implementation of Inspection Orders based on Section 3, Article 26 of the Food Sanitation Law
2019 - Implementation of Inspection Orders based on Section 3, Article 26 of the Food Sanitation Law
2018 - Implementation of Inspection Orders based on Section 3, Article 26 of the Food Sanitation Law
2017 - Implementation of Inspection Orders based on Section 3, Article 26 of the Food Sanitation Law
2016 - Implementation of Inspection Orders based on Section 3, Article 26 of the Food Sanitation Law


(4) Monitoring Plan
2021 - Imported Foods Monitoring Plan for FY 2021
2020 - Imported Foods Monitoring Plan for FY 2020
2019 - Imported Foods Monitoring Plan for FY 2019
2018 - Imported Foods Monitoring Plan for FY 2018
2017 - Imported Foods Monitoring Plan for FY 2017
2016 - Imported Foods Monitoring Plan for FY 2016


(5) Guidelines for Importers
- Guidelines on Hygiene Control of Import Processed Foods (PDF:78KB)
- Relevant Information (Japanese)


(6) Recent Cases of Violation of the Food Sanitation Law that were Found on the Occasion of Import Notification (Flash)
2019
Jan.
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Feb.
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Mar.
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Apr.
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May.
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Jun.
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Jul.
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2018
Jan.
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Feb.
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Mar.
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Apr.
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May.
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Jun.
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Jul.
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Aug.
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Sep.
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Oct.
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Nov.
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Dec.
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2017
Jan.
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Feb.
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Mar.
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Apr.
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May.
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Jun.
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Jul.
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Aug.
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Sep.
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Oct.
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Nov.
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Dec.
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2016
Jan.
(xls:54KB)
Feb.
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Mar.
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Apr.
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May.
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Jun.
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Jul.
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Aug.
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Sep.
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Oct.
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Nov.
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Dec.
(xls:59KB)

(7) Summary of Foreign Official Laboratories (PDF:65KB)

(8) List of Foreign Official Laboratories 
If you want to change this lists, please contact the government of your country or the embassy of your country in Japan for more information.

(9) Minimum Preferably Required Information in Test Certificates Issued by Foreign Official Laboratories (PDF:52KB)


2. Submission of Your Opinion and Information

Please send your opinion and information by e-mail, facsimile or regular mail. Please indicate "About the Imported Foods Inspeciton Information" on your message.

E-mail: www-admin@mhlw.go.jp (In text format)
Regular Mail: Office of Quarantine Station Administration
Policy Planning Division for
Environmental Health and Food Safety
Pharmaceutical Safety and Environmental Health Bureau
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8916, Japan

Fax: +81-3-3591-8029

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