Food, Beverage & Supplement Importer of Record in Japan (食品衛生法)
Want to sell food, drinks, or supplements in Japan but have no company there to clear them? Aplash becomes your Importer of Record (IOR): the legal company on the import. Every shipment of food, beverages, or supplements needs a Food Import Notification (食品等輸入届出書) under the Food Sanitation Act (食品衛生法), and we file it in our own name with the regional health authority. If your product makes a health claim, we also coordinate functional food (機能性表示食品) notification.
How it works
An Importer of Record (IOR) is the company legally responsible for bringing goods through customs. Aplash takes that role so you can sell into Japan without a local entity.
- 1Free commodity assessmentSend your product details. We confirm whether Aplash can be your importer and give you a quote, at no cost.
- 2We import as your Importer of RecordAplash clears customs in its own name under the Customs Act (関税法) and arranges any permits or certifications your goods need.
- 3Delivered to your Japan buyerWe hand the goods to your Japan-side buyer and invoice transparently, so you sell in Japan with no company of your own there.
What Aplash handles
- Importer of Record for food, beverages, and dietary supplements (general health food, 健康食品).
- Food Import Notification (食品等輸入届出書) submission per shipment, under the Food Sanitation Act (食品衛生法).
- Coordination with MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 農林水産省) for plant-origin foods (Plant Quarantine, 植物検疫) and animal-origin foods (Animal Quarantine, 動物検疫).
- Functional food (機能性表示食品) notification preparation and submission. This has been a notification-based system since 2015, not a pre-approval one.
- Coordination with bonded food-licensed warehouses and quarantine inspection.
What we do not handle
- Foods for Specified Health Uses (特定保健用食品, Tokuho) approval. This is a formal MHLW approval, takes multiple years, and requires clinical data. Aplash does not undertake Tokuho.
- Foods containing pharmaceutically active ingredients. These fall under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act (薬機法) instead; restricted, and needs a pre-engagement assessment.
- Foods with a history of Food Sanitation Act (食品衛生法) violations (banned ingredients, additives not approved in Japan, or residue limits exceeded).
- Live animal or live plant imports requiring full quarantine custody. We coordinate the filing, not the in-custody handling.
- Halal, kosher, or organic certification. These come from third-party certification bodies, not Aplash.
How the per-shipment notification process works
- (a) We verify ingredients before shipping: additives, sweeteners, and colorants checked against Japan-permitted lists.
- (b) We prepare the Food Import Notification (食品等輸入届出書) with HS code, ingredient list, origin, and intended use.
- (c) We file the notification with the regional Quarantine Station of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
- (d) Once the notification clears, we file the customs entry in Aplash's name.
Supplement classification
| Category | Health claims allowed | Aplash position |
|---|---|---|
| General health food (健康食品) | No health claims allowed | Handled |
| Functional food (機能性表示食品) | Notification-based health claims allowed | Handled: notification coordination |
| Tokuho (特定保健用食品) | Formal MHLW approval required | Not in Aplash scope |
MAFF quarantine overview
Plant-origin foods may need a Plant Quarantine (植物検疫) inspection by MAFF before customs release; animal-origin foods may need an Animal Quarantine (動物検疫) inspection instead. Aplash coordinates the inspection slot and document submission ahead of the shipment's arrival date, to prevent demurrage costs.
Pricing band
Standard food and beverage (existing additives, no restricted ingredients): from $2,800 per shipment. Functional food (機能性表示食品) notification coordination: from $4,800 per product, plus the per-shipment IOR fee. Ongoing functional-food maintenance available on engagement.
Customs duty and Japanese consumption tax (JCT) are passed on at cost. Aplash earns no margin on the goods, only on the service.
Not sure if your goods qualify?
Send the product details. We confirm whether Aplash can import it and quote against the public pricing band before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Food Sanitation Act (食品衛生法) notification on every shipment?
Yes. A Food Import Notification (食品等輸入届出書) is required for every shipment of food, beverages, or supplements intended for sale or distribution in Japan. Aplash files this with the regional health authority before the customs filing.
Can my supplement claim health benefits in Japan?
Only if it is registered as a functional food (機能性表示食品, notification-based) or approved as Tokuho (特定保健用食品, formal approval). General health food (健康食品) cannot make health claims. Aplash coordinates the functional food notification path.
Can Aplash handle Tokuho?
No. Tokuho (特定保健用食品) requires multi-year MHLW approval with clinical data, which is outside Aplash's IOR scope. We coordinate referrals for clients pursuing Tokuho.
Do you do halal or kosher certification?
No. Halal and kosher certifications are issued by accredited third-party certifying bodies. Aplash coordinates the customs and Food Sanitation Act (食品衛生法) path, independent of religious certifications.
Live plant or animal imports?
Coordination only. Quarantine custody is performed by MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)-licensed quarantine facilities. Aplash coordinates the import filing and timeline, not the in-custody handling.
Applicable law and standards
- Customs Act (関税法)
- Food Sanitation Act (食品衛生法)
- Functional food labelling notification system (機能性表示食品制度)
Related pages
Aplash coordinates Food Sanitation Act (食品衛生法) notification per shipment and functional food (機能性表示食品) product registration on the product-launch path. Engagement starts with an ingredient compatibility check.