Japan – Export requirements for milk and dairy products

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1. Eligible/ineligible product

The list of products below is for reference only. It is the responsibility of the exporter to ensure that the product being exported will be covered by the negotiated certificate.

Eligible

Examples of dairy products with their HS codes that are regulated in Japan:

  • 0401 (Milk and cream, etc.)
  • 0402 (Milk and cream, etc.)
  • 0403 (Buttermilk, etc.)
  • 0404 (Whey powder, etc.)
  • 0405 (Butter, etc.)
  • 0406 (Cheese, etc.)
  • 3502.20, 3502.90 (Milk albumin, concentrated whey, etc.)

Ineligible

Information not available

2. Pre-export approvals by the competent authority of the importing country

Country

Japan maintains a list of approved countries, which is updated based on the health status of countries regarding diseases such as foot and mouth disease. Le Canada is authorized to export dairy products.

Establishments

Japan does not have an eligibility list for the export of dairy products for human consumption.

Dairy establishments must be under the official oversight of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and be licensed under the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations (SFCR).

Products

No information is known regarding products registration.

Import permit

No information is known regarding the requirement for an import permit.

3. Product specifications

Information not available

4. Production controls and inspection requirements

Canada has been recognized by Japan as having an equivalent system of inspection, which means that Canadian dairy products intended for human consumption are processed under sanitary conditions in accordance with the laws and regulations of Canada which are at least equivalent to the laws and regulations of Japan.

The inspector must verify during a preventive control inspection that the manufacturer is aware of the standards and requirements of Japan and has a specific export procedure in place.

Note

If the model "Health certificate for dairy products manufactured in Canada and used in foreign countries for export to the European Union", is used (see section 6 below), the Canadian manufacturer must be on the European Union approved list (accessible through TRACES) and the export procedure should be amended accordingly.

Manufacturer's declaration

All export requests for milk and dairy products must be accompanied by a Manufacturer's declaration completed and signed by an authorized person of the food manufacturing establishment/facility. To request a template of the manufacturer's declaration, please contact your local CFIA office. If the dairy products are for further processing in Japan with possible export of the finished product to the EU, it will have to be indicated on the manufacturer's declaration.

Note: inspectors will verify that the manufacturer's declaration is completed appropriately and reserve the right to request any other information that they think is necessary for the final certification of the product.

Certification requirements

Health certificates issued by the CFIA contain animal health and public health requirements.

5. Labelling, packaging and marking requirements

Products need to satisfy Japan labelling requirements.

6. Documentation requirements

Canada has a negotiated certificate with Japan. Request for any additional statements must be confirmed by CFIA's Food Import Export Division.

Certificate

Official certificate for the export of raw milk and milk products from cloven-hooved animals to be exported to Japan from Canada for human consumption (CFIA/ACIA 5829).

Note

In the case where Canadian dairy ingredients are used to manufacture products in a foreign country and these will be subsequently shipped to the EU, the foreign country operator may request Canadian documentation to support export certification. The model "Health certificate for dairy products manufactured in Canada and used in foreign countries for export to the European Union" (accessible only on the Government of Canada network – RDIMS 15883053). Contact your local CFIA office to obtain this certificate. Japan requires that this certificate be accompanied by the export dairy certificate negotiated with Canada, model CFIA/ACIA 5829. The box ''Additional Information'' in the certificates must be used to link the 2 certificates.

Export certificates cannot be issued after the products have left Canada.

7. Other information

Exported products transiting through a country may require transit documentation. It is the responsibility of the exporter to ensure that the shipment will be accompanied by all necessary certificates.

Samples (personal or commercial) may be subject to the same requirements as a regular shipment. It is strongly recommended that the exporter verify these requirements with their importer.

Dairy products imported into Japan are subject to import inspection by the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS).

List of countries regions or zones recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) where exporting raw milk and un-heat-treated milk products to Japan is allowed.

Relevant links

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