Meat Products 🇯🇵 Japan
Strict animal quarantine; most meat prohibited
Can I bring Meat Products into Japan?
Strict animal quarantine; most meat prohibited
Only from MAFF-approved origins
- Quarantine declaration
Required at the destination customs authority
Full details
Japan's Animal Quarantine Service enforces strict controls on meat imports. Most meat from most countries is prohibited due to BSE, foot-and-mouth, and avian influenza concerns. Only meat from MAFF-approved facilities in approved countries is accepted. All meat products must be declared. Enforcement in Japan carries fines from JPY 100,000 to JPY 5,000,000 under Customs Law (Kanzeihō) Art. 110, Art. 111 (ordinary personal cases are handled as civil infringements). Leaving Japan with meat products is a separate question — restricted: Meat products for personal consumption may face export limits from Japan for animal-health documentation reasons; commercial quantities require an Export Health Certificate.
PENALTIES
- Fine: 100000–5000000 JPY
- Civil penalty only
Leaving Japan with meat products
Personal-use quantities of processed, cooked, or shelf-stable meat products (jerky, cured meats, canned meats) may generally be exported from Japan for personal consumption; destination-country biosecurity restrictions on arrival are typically the binding constraint. Raw meat, poultry, and offal require a veterinary-issued Export Health Certificate for commercial or above-personal-use export. Many destinations (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, US, EU) restrict or prohibit personal-import of raw and cooked meat regardless of origin-side export permissions.
Declare all meat products. Most will be confiscated unless from approved origins.
Only from MAFF-approved origins
- Quarantine declaration
Animal Quarantine Law
This page covers destination customs rules in Japan. Whether you can carry meat products through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Related rules
Meat Products rules in other countries
Meat Products
🇦🇺 Australia
Fresh, dried, and most cooked meat products are prohibited. Biosecurity risk.
Meat Products
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Almost all meat products are prohibited. New Zealand has strict biosecurity controls.
Meat Products
🇺🇸 United States
Most fresh and cured meats prohibited from most countries
Meat Products
🇧🇷 Brazil
MAPA inspection required for most animal products
Meat Products
🇨🇳 China
Most meat products prohibited under GACC regulations
Meat Products
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Halal certification required for meat imports