ホーム > Home > Bring Animals > Entry Foxes

text

Entering Japan: Foxes, Raccoons & Skunks

On arrival in Japan, foxes, raccoons and skunks must undergo import quarantine for a set period of time to screen out rabies. Furthermore, in order to check whether they have contracted the disease in isolation from other animals or humans, the animals are held in the quarantine facilities of the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS).

 

Advance notification 

When trying to import foxes, raccoons or skunks, you must submit advance notification of the date of arrival, number of animals and other items to the Animal Quarantine Service which has jurisdiction over your intended air/sea port of arrival at least 40 days prior to arriving in Japan.
Please bear in mind that you may be requested to change the date and/or place of import depending on the availability situation of quarantine facilities at the Animal Quarantine Service.

 

Bringing in animals from designated region (rabies-free country or region)

For an animal from designated regions (rabies-free countries or regions), if you have a certificate issued by a responsible government agency of the country of export containing all necessary information such as the microchip number for individual identification, the quarantine period will be completed within 12 hours.

 

Bringing in animals from countries/regions that are not designated regions

For animals brought in from countries/regions that are not designated regions, the quarantine period is up to 180 days. Please take careful note that quarantine examinations at your own home are not accepted.

 

Import quarantine on arrival in Japan

On arrival in Japan, please submit the application for import inspection to the Animal Quarantine Service and have the animal inspected by an animal quarantine officer.
The inspection for foxes, raccoons and skunks brought in from designated regions will not usually take long on condition that the advance notification is checked, and the animal is successfully identified and is proven to meet all conditions. If there are any omissions in the certification or individual identification, the animal may be subject to a long import quarantine up to 180 days.
Foxes, raccoons and skunks brought in from places other than designated regions will be subject to a 180-day quarantine period.

 

Feeding arrangements during the quarantine period

It is the importer’s responsibility to take care of the animals during quarantine. Importers are requested to take proper care of the animals to avoid and unfavourable accidents or illness due to changes in environment.
The cost of import inspection by animal quarantine officers is free but the importers must cover the cost of transportation, feed and other care, onsite veterinary treatment, return or disposal of animals.Please bear in mind that veterinary treatment has to be done at the quarantine facilities of the respective Animal Quarantine Service during quarantine.
There are 11 quarantine facilities around the country, of which four (Narita, Kansai Airport, Nagoya branches and Yokohama head office) have caretaker agents stationed at the facility.  For all other facilities, it is necessary to feed the animals yourself, or to make advance arrangements for a third party to carry out feeding duties on your behalf.

 

(Animal Quarantine Service centres with quarantine facilities)