Essential knowledge for importing live animals and plants: CITES regulations, quarantine procedures, shipping methods, and customs duties explained for individual buyers.
要點總結
Essential knowledge for importing live animals and plants: CITES regulations, quarantine procedures, shipping methods, and customs duties explained for individual buyers.
There are many rare organisms and plants overseas that are difficult to obtain domestically in Japan. However, importing organisms and plants from overseas involves numerous hurdles, including regulations based on international treaties and domestic laws, quarantine procedures, and special transportation requirements. This article explains the basic knowledge that individuals should understand when importing organisms and plants from overseas.
CITES (Cites) is the abbreviated name for "Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora," which is a treaty that regulates international trade in wild animals and plants. Approximately 184 countries are parties to it, and the target species are classified into three appendices. Appendix I is the strictest regulation, where commercial trade is prohibited in principle, and includes species such as gorillas and orangutans. Appendix II allows commercial trade, but requires an export permit from the exporting country. Many reptiles, amphibians, corals, orchids, and similar species fall into this category. Appendix III includes species designated by specific countries for their own conservation, and an export permit from the country of origin is required. You can check whether the organisms or plants you are considering purchasing are CITES-listed species on the websites of the Ministry of the Environment or the CITES Secretariat. Importing CITES-listed species without permission is subject to penalties as a violation of tariff law or the Species Conservation Law.
When importing organisms or plants, you must comply with Japan's quarantine system. For animals, quarantine is conducted based on the Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Prevention Law and the Rabies Prevention Law. Dogs and cats are subject to particularly strict quarantine, and in some cases may require a 180-day quarantine period. Reptiles and amphibians usually involve relatively simple procedures, but may require a health certificate in some cases. Fish are generally exempt from quarantine, but import restrictions may be imposed if certain diseases are confirmed. For plants, import inspections are mandatory under the Plant Protection Law. Plants with soil attached are generally prohibited from importation and must be in a bare-root state after root washing. Obtaining a Phytosanitary Certificate from the exporting country is also necessary. If pests or diseases are detected during quarantine, disinfection, incineration, or return will be carried out.
International transport of organisms is primarily done by air. Packaging that complies with the IATA (International Air Transport Association) "Regulations for the Transport of Live Animals" is required. Transport time is determined by the total time from departure to arrival, and it is desirable to keep it within 24 hours. Since it is heavily affected by temperature, transporting in midsummer or midwinter poses high risks; if possible, choose a mild climate in spring or autumn. For transporting fish and corals, it is common to fill vinyl bags with oxygen and pack them in styrofoam boxes with heat-retaining materials. Reptiles are placed in cloth bags and packed in styrofoam boxes with heat-retaining materials. Plants should be wrapped at the roots with sphagnum moss and packaged with adequate ventilation ensured. Choose a specialist transport company with experience in international transport of organisms. General courier services do not accept international transport of organisms.
Imported organisms and plants are subject to tariffs and consumption tax. Tariff rates on live animals vary by item, ranging from duty-free to several percent. Live plants (such as orchids and cacti) are often duty-free, but some items are subject to taxation. In either case, consumption tax (10%) is applied. Additionally, in addition to the product price, international shipping, insurance, and customs clearance fees are also incurred, so the total cost often amounts to several times the cost of domestic purchases. The legal risk to be most cautious about is importing without permission. If you import CITES-listed species without a permit, the organism will be confiscated and you may face criminal penalties. Furthermore, species designated as Specified Invasive Species under the Invasive Species Law are prohibited from importation altogether. Since ignorance is not an excuse, thoroughly investigate the legal requirements before importing.
Since personal imports from overseas involve complex procedures and high risks, we recommend first considering obtaining specimens domestically. Brichoku allows you to purchase directly from domestic breeders who work on breeding rare species, with no concerns about legal risks or transportation troubles. Rare varieties originating from overseas can be safely obtained if they are captive-bred specimens (CB individuals) bred domestically. If you must import a species from overseas that cannot be found domestically, we strongly recommend consulting with an experienced import company.