このページの本文へ移動

植物防疫所

メニュー

Frequently Asked Questions and Contact Information


Q1
How is the procedures for an export inspection conducted?
Q2
Where can I have an export inspection conducted?
Q3
Is export inspection conducted on all plants?
Q4
How much time does it take to complete an export inspection?
Q5
Do I need to pay any commission for export inspection?
Q6
What happens if I intend to export plants without going through an export inspection?
Q7
How can I obtain an import?
Q8 How can I carry flowers or fruits when I go abroad?
Q9 Can I send plants to another country by international mail or international courier?
Q10 How can I send seedling of plants or seeds to my acquaintance who lives overseas?
Q11
How is an inspection at cultivation area conducted?
Q12 Which types of plants require inspections at growing areas?
Q13 Do preserved flowers require an inspection when I take them out overseas?
Q14 Can I export bonsai of Japanese white pine?
Q15 Does the export of cactus or orchid seedling require inspections?
Q16 Does the export of seaweed require inspections?
Q17 When I intend to export plants overseas, are there any restrictions other than plant quarantines?

 


Q1 How is the procedures for an export inspection conducted?
A When you intend to export any plants, you must comply with the plant quarantine conditions required by an export counterpart. You have to check whether the export counterpart does not prohibit the plants from being imported, it does not require a special inspection and an import permit has been obtained for any country that requires an import permit for importing the plants. In accordance with quarantine requirements of the export counterpart, different inspections are conducted with respect to adherence or existence of diseases or pests subject to quarantine. It may take long time to complete inspections on any plant that requires an inspection at its cultivation area and special quarantine conditions. For more details, please contact the nearest plant protection station or a plant protection station where you are planning to have your product inspected.
 
 
Q2 Where can I have an export inspection conducted?
A An export inspection may be conducted at any nationwide plant protection station prior to or on the day of export. Please be advised to make a reservation for inspection with a plant protection station where you expect your product to be inspected. It should be noted that we may not accept your application for export inspection depending on quarantine conditions of export counterparts (e.g. import is prohibited/special export inspections such as those conducted at  cultivation areas are required/you have not obtained an import permit in cases where you need to do so in advance). Please contact a plant protection station, a plant quarantine organization of that country or the foreign embassy in Japan to ask for quarantine conditions of the country you are planning to export your product to in advance.
Ministry of the Foreign Affairs website: https://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/protocol/index.html
Plant protection station: https://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/introduction/english_exp.html#chart

 
Q3 Is export inspection conducted on all plants?
A An export inspection is conducted by checking all packages and extracting a certain quantity of plants in accordance with their types and quantities. Please be reminded that a destruction inspection (cutting fruits, etc.) may be conducted with respect to plants suspected to be infected with diseases or pests.

 
Q4 How much time does it take to complete an export inspection?
A In cases where an export counterpart does not impose any special requirements such as inspections at cultivation areas and indoor inspections, it usually takes 30 minutes to 1 hour from the entry of application form through the export inspection to the issuance of certificates. However, if you make a reservation  and apply for inspection in advance, the inspection completes around 15 minutes unless any problem is found. We kindly recommend you to make a reservation.

Q5 Do I need to pay any commission for export inspection?
A You don’t need to pay any commission in Japan.

 
Q6 What happens if I intend to export plants without going through an export inspection?
A In cases where plants are exported without going through any inspection and they fall under prohibited items or do not satisfy import requirements of the export counterpart, you may be punished under laws of that country. Moreover, it is specified that no plant cannot be exported unless it passes an inspection in cases where an export counterpart requires an export inspection. Please contact directly a nearby plant protection station, the embassy in Japan or a plant quarantine organization of that country in advance for whether export inspections are required.

 
Q7 How can I obtain an import permit?
A The exporter is responsible for obtaining an import license on his/her own. A plant protection station does not undertake any procedure therefor. You need to obtain an import permit from a plant quarantine organization of the export counterpart on your own or through an importer of that country.

 
Q8 How can I carry flowers or fruits when I go abroad?
A You may take some flowers or fruits out as long as they pass an export inspection. However, an export counterpart may prohibit some flowers or fruits from being imported or requires a prior permission (import). For quarantine conditions, we recommend you to contact the nearest plant protection station, a plant quarantine organization of that country or its embassy in Japan. You may also check quarantine conditions in "information on simple search for travelers" on this website.

 
Q9 Can I send plants to another country by international mail or international courier?
A Some countries establish restrictions on import of plants depending on their transportation method. Therefore, you may not be able to send them by mail or courier. Please contact a plant protection station in advance to see whether an export counterpart has any restriction. In cases where an export inspection is required, you need to have your plants inspected at the plant protection station. Please contact an international delivery company, since some international delivery companies do not accept plants that require inspections.

 
Q10 How can I send seedling of plants or seeds to my acquaintance who lives overseas?
A Depending on export counterparts or types of plants to be sent, it is prohibited to export the plants, you need to obtain an import permit in advance from the export counterpart or an inspection at growing areas is required. Moreover, since many countries prohibit soil from being imported, it is difficult to send seedling with soil. For quarantine conditions, contact the nearest plant protection station, a plant quarantine organization of the export counterpart or its embassy in Japan in advance. You may also check quarantine conditions in "information on simple search for travelers" and "detailed information on conditions of export and import" on this website. Moreover, there are some restrictions on bringing registered varieties protected under the Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act.
For more details, see the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.http://www.hinshu2.maff.go.jp/en/en_top.html

 
Q11 How is an inspection at cultivation area conducted?
A A plant protection officer visit a growing area to conduct this inspection when diseases or pests subject to this inspection appear. The method, timing and number of times of inspections are different by export counterparts, plants to be exported and diseases or pests subject thereto. For example, bonsai plants to be exported to EU are inspected six times in one season and for two years. Please determine the timing of inspections with the plant protection center that has jurisdiction over your growing areas.

 
Q12 Which types of plants require inspections at growing areas?
A For example, cruciferous seedling for India and South Africa, Japanese white pine for EU, bosai of Juniperus, fresh pears for the U.S. and Australia, fresh apples and fresh Unshu oranges for the U.S. and New Zealand. Please contact a plant protection station in advance, since more countries require inspections on seeds and seedling at cultivation areas in recent years.

 
Q13 Do preserved flowers require an inspection when I take them out overseas?
A Some countries require export inspections, while other countries do not require any export inspection. Moreover, preserved flowers are not subject to plant quarantine in some countries, since they are highly processed. We recommend you to directly contact the nearest plant protection station, a plant quarantine organization of the export counterpart or its embassy in Japan.

 
Q14 Can I export bonsai of Japanese white pine?
A You may export to some countries if it goes through an export inspection. However, other countries prohibit its import. Moreover, many countries prohibit soil from being imported so that the import of bonsai planted in soil is prohibited in the same way. We recommend you to directly contact the nearest plant protection station, a plant quarantine organization of the export counterpart or its embassy in Japan. 

 
Q15 Does the export of cactus or orchid seedling require inspections?
A It depends on a country which it will be exported to. Please contact the nearest plant protection station, a plant quarantine organization of the export counterpart or its embassy in Japan. Moreover, it is prohibited to export and import some of cactus or orchid species under the Washington Convention.
For more details, see the website of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. https://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/external_economy/CITES/about_cites.html

Q16 Does the export of seaweed require inspections?
A Seaweed may be subject to plant quarantines in some countries. Please contact the nearest plant protection station, a plant quarantine organization of the export counterpart or its embassy in Japan.


Q17 When I intend to export plants overseas, are there any restrictions other than plant quarantines?
A ・New plant varieties/breeder's rightIt is restricted to bring registered varieties protected under the Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act out of Japan.
http://www.hinshu2.maff.go.jp/en/en_top.html
TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power PlantSome countries impose restrictions on radioactive materials.
https://www.maff.go.jp/e/export/reference.html
CITES (Washington Convention) It is restricted to trade some plants under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Washington Convention).
https://www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/external_economy/CITES/about_cites.html