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Quality-control bench with whole and halved Hass avocados, a firmness tester, a scale, a tray of blueberries with a sizing gauge, a temperature logger and an inspection sheet
Importer sourcing · Japan import readiness

Japan import-readiness checklists for fresh fruit and shrimp, by product and origin

What an importer and its exporter must have in place before a consignment of avocados, grapes, mangoes, bananas, pitaya or frozen shrimp leaves for Japan — and where to confirm it.

Prepared by the Global B2B Group project team · Published · Last reviewed · Scope: Japan. Summaries of MAFF, MHLW and Japan Customs pages opened on 25 October 2026. Not legal or customs advice; the importer and exporter must verify current requirements for each product, origin, variety and consignment with the Japanese authorities.

Also available in: 日本語 · Español

What must be ready before fresh fruit or shrimp ships to Japan?

Five checks. For fresh fruit: (1) plant quarantine and market access — the product, origin and variety must be covered by a MAFF detailed rule or an exception in the prohibited-plants table, with orchards, packhouses and treatment facilities registered where the rule requires; (2) a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country's plant protection organisation and a Japanese import inspection. For all food, fruit and shrimp alike: (3) a food import notification to an MHLW quarantine station under Food Sanitation Act Article 27; (4) residues within Japan's limits under the positive list system; (5) customs declaration. Requirements change — the importer and exporter must verify the current product–origin requirements with the Plant Protection Station and the quarantine station before contracting.

The five checks, who does them and where to confirm

Fruit passes all five checks; frozen shrimp for human consumption is imported as food and passes checks 3 to 5. MAFF's Animal Quarantine Service covers non-living aquatic animals only when they are for aquaculture use.

Japan import readiness: the five checks
CheckAuthorityWhat must be in placeWho
1. Plant quarantine and market accessMAFF Plant Protection StationProduct, origin and variety covered by a detailed rule (実施細則) or a table exception; registered orchards, packhouses and treatment facilities where the rule requires; soil is prohibited from every originExporter with its plant protection organisation; importer confirms
2. Phytosanitary certificate and import inspectionExporting country's plant protection organisation; Plant Protection StationCertificate issued by the exporting government; inspection on arrival in JapanExporter obtains the certificate; importer presents the consignment
3. Food import notification (食品等輸入届出)MHLW quarantine stationNotification under Food Sanitation Act Article 27 for food sold or used in business; document review and a decision on whether testing is neededImporter
4. Residues and food safetyMHLWResidues within Japan's limits under the positive list system; imported food is monitored under MHLW's annual planExporter supplies residue results; importer is responsible on import
5. Customs (輸入申告)Japan Customs (NACCS)Import declaration with commercial documents; permit after examination and duty and tax formalitiesImporter or customs broker

Peru: Hass avocados, grapes and Kent mangoes

Japan recorded 2024 imports of all three from Peru (UN Comtrade; see the buyer map). Each MAFF rule applies only to the named variety.

  • Hass avocados (rule of 18 June 2015): fruit from designated production areas, packed at designated packing facilities, with production management in the orchard; the rule covers Hass only.
  • Grapes, Vitis vinifera (rule of 22 March 2023, amended 25 November 2025): cold treatment in containers with temperature monitoring and sealing, inspection and verification; shipped without transit through other regions.
  • Kent mangoes (amended 28 July 2023): hot-water immersion at a registered treatment facility, with temperature records, protected packing and verification; Kent only.
  • Verify before contracting: the importer and exporter must confirm the current rule text and the season's registrations with the Plant Protection Station and SENASA.

India: mangoes

  • Rule amended 17 March 2022: six cultivars — Alphonso, Kesar, Chausa, Banganapalli, Mallika and Langra — from six designated states: Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Telangana.
  • Vapour heat treatment at a facility registered for Japan, followed by inspection; ask which facility will treat your fruit this season.
  • Verify before contracting: the importer and exporter must confirm the current cultivar list, states and approved facilities with the Plant Protection Station and India's plant protection organisation.

Colombia: Hass avocados, Tommy Atkins mangoes and yellow pitaya

MAFF publishes rules for all three, but Japan reported no 2024 imports of Colombian avocados or mangoes — confirm that registered sites exist for the coming season before planning.

  • Hass avocados (rule of 31 July 2019): designated orchards and packing facilities, harvest management; shipped without transit through other regions.
  • Tommy Atkins mangoes (amended 28 July 2023): vapour heat treatment at a registered facility; Tommy Atkins only.
  • Yellow pitaya (rule of 28 July 2023): vapour heat treatment at a registered facility; shipped without transit through other regions. Other pitaya species are not covered by this rule.
  • Verify before contracting: the importer and exporter must confirm the current rule and the season's registrations with the Plant Protection Station and ICA.

Ecuador and Peru: bananas

  • Annexed Table 2 lists Musa as a prohibited host but excludes immature bananas. The exclusion covers immature fruit only — specify the harvest maturity and how it is checked.
  • A phytosanitary certificate, the import inspection, the food import notification and residue limits still apply.
  • Verify before contracting: the importer and exporter must confirm the current wording and conditions with the Plant Protection Station.

India, Ecuador and Peru: frozen shrimp

  • Imported as food: the importer files the food import notification with an MHLW quarantine station.
  • Residue limits for agricultural chemicals under the positive list system apply to imported food; ask for test results from the processing plant.
  • State the HS code, product form, count or size grade, glazing and net weight, so documents and labels match the goods.
  • Verify before contracting: the importer must confirm current requirements for the product and origin with the quarantine station.

Routes not established on the evidence we found

We found no detailed rule for these pairs on 25 October 2026. That is not proof of a ban or of permission — ask the Plant Protection Station in writing before any programme.

  • Peru — blueberries: Annexed Table 2 lists Vaccinium fruit from Peru among Mediterranean fruit fly hosts.
  • Kenya — avocados and other fresh fruit: no Kenya-specific detailed rule found.
  • Ecuador — mangoes: no detailed rule found.

What Global B2B Group does — and does not do — on import readiness

We do

  • Check your request against the published MAFF rule for each product and origin before we approach suppliers
  • Ask every supplier for registration, treatment-facility, phytosanitary and residue documents, and show you what is still open
  • Coordinate shipment details with suppliers — shipping weeks, Incoterms® rule, transport mode and document set — and return comparable offers

We do not

  • File the food import notification or customs declaration, book freight or clear goods — that is the importer's role
  • Promise that a consignment will pass plant quarantine, food inspection or customs, or certify any supplier
  • Connect you directly with suppliers before review, or charge buyers

Documents to request from a supplier before a Japan shipment

  • The MAFF rule or exception the shipment relies on, with product, origin and exact variety
  • Registration numbers of the orchard, packhouse and treatment facility for the season, where the rule requires them
  • Draft phytosanitary certificate details from the exporting plant protection organisation
  • Residue test results against Japan's positive-list limits
  • Commercial documents for the food import notification and customs: invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill
  • Shipping weeks, Incoterms® rule and named place, transport mode and arrival port

Our team turns these points into one reviewed request and approaches suitable suppliers on your behalf. Buyers pay nothing; sourcing programmes start from USD 250,000 per year or season, and every requirement is confirmed per shipment rather than assumed.

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Frequently asked questions

Who must verify that a product and origin can be imported into Japan?

The importer and the exporter. Confirm the current product–origin requirements with MAFF's Plant Protection Station and the MHLW quarantine station before contracting; rules are amended, for example Peru's grape rule on 25 November 2025.

Official guidance: MAFF Plant Protection Station — index of detailed plant-quarantine rules (実施細則・条件付き解禁)

Is a phytosanitary certificate enough to import fresh fruit into Japan?

No. The fruit must also be allowed from that origin under a detailed rule or a table exception, pass the Japanese import inspection, be notified to MHLW as food and meet residue limits.

Official guidance: MAFF Plant Protection Station — import plant quarantine (輸入植物検疫)

What is the MHLW food import notification?

Under Food Sanitation Act Article 27, anyone importing food for sale or business use must notify an MHLW quarantine station, which reviews the documents and decides whether testing is needed.

Official guidance: MHLW — import notification of foods under Food Sanitation Act Article 27 (食品等輸入届出)

Which residue limits apply in Japan?

Japan's positive list system for agricultural chemical residues in foods applies to imported food. Ask suppliers for test results against Japanese limits for your product.

Official guidance: MHLW — positive list system for agricultural chemical residues in foods

Can Global B2B Group handle clearance in Japan?

No. We are a buyer-side sourcing service: we check requests against the published rules, screen supplier documents, coordinate shipment details with suppliers and return comparable offers. The importer files the notification and the customs declaration.

What does it cost, and is there a minimum?

Buyers pay nothing. Assisted sourcing applies to programmes from USD 250,000 in total annual or seasonal value.

Sources

This guide summarises official sources for planning a sourcing request. It is not legal or customs advice; rules change and depend on the product, HS code, origin, destination and date — confirm them with the authority or your customs broker before you ship.