PREPARE DOCUMENTS TO EXPORT TO JAPANESE MARKET

1. Certificate of Analysis and Certificate of Plant Quarantine. The Phytosanitary Certificate must accompany the consignment, while the Certificate of Analysis is the document confirming the results of the laboratory tests (certified by MHLW) on request.

Phytosanitary certificates are issued by your local authorities. In order to be quarantined for food safety by the Quarantine Station of the place of import and to shorten the time required for customs clearance, a Certificate of Analysis can be obtained from overseas laboratories approved by MHLW (Japanese Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare’s certification). This process is optional. If the Certificate of Analysis from the MHLW-certified laboratory accompanying the consignment is complete and appropriate, MHLW will not require any additional quarantine at the port of import. The packer / exporter is Responsible. Timeframe for achieving Phytosanitary Certificate: ask with your local authorities. Analytical timeframe: ask the laboratory of your choice.

2. Customs declaration

The packer / exporter is responsible. The export declaration procedures are usually assigned to a Customs Agent. Required import documents, including: Commercial Invoice, Bill of Goods, Bill of Lading (B / L) or Air Waybill, Phytosanitary Certificate, Certificate of Analysis, labeling, packaging materials:

– Commercial invoice: An invoice for goods of the packer / exporter issued to the importer. The invoice will be used by both domestic and Japanese customs to determine the value of the goods, including the following: Information about the exporter (seller) and importer (buyer), description, quantity and unit price, payment information, shipping method and its details, country of origin.

– Bill of lading: Sea waybill (B / L) or Air waybill is a contract between exporter (owner) and shipping company (carrier) and will be issued by the carrier after loading the goods on board. The exporter will prepare content to guide the transportation for the carrier. Importers often need original documents as proof of ownership of the goods.

When shipping by sea, the importer needs a few more days to discharge, clear customs and transport the goods domestically, which will exceed the usual transit time for the shipment. For example, the base time for shipments from a U.S. port to Tokyo is as follows: 14 days if from Los Angeles, 12 days if from Oakland, 30 days if from New York depending on the size of the goods and the cost.

The following information is placed on the Bill of Lading accompanying the shipment: Date of product packaging, Required packing temperature for frozen fruit and vegetables (minimum 0 degrees F), Name and Signature of Authorized representative of business, Title, Date signed, and Name of the business, Description of goods, Quantity of goods to be shipped.

-The List of Goods provides detailed information about the shipment, including: Information about the exporter (seller) and the importer (buyer), Invoice Number, Delivery Date, Shipping Method and its details, Type of packaging, Number of packages, Total weight and net weight (in kilograms), Total dimensions.