III. CUSTOMS CONTROLS AGAINST GOODSINFRINGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Goods infringing intellectual property rights are specified as articles prohibited from import orexport under Article 69-2 and Article 69-11 of the Customs Act and are regulated by Customs at theborder. When the goods are found to be infringing intellectual property rights, they are confiscated byCustoms and the relevant person may be punished in some cases under Article 109 or other provisionsof the Customs Act.

1. Import Suspensions Regarding Goods Infringing IntellectualProperty Rights(1) Transition in import suspensions (2022*)
The number of import suspensions by Customs regarding goods infringing intellectual property
rights was 26,942 cases (down by 4.7% from the previous year). Although the number decreased
from the previous year, it remains at a high level. The number of articles suspended from import
was 882,647 (up by 7.7% (id.)).
Transition in import suspensions regarding goods infringing intellectual property rights
Number of cases (cases)
Nomber of cases

35,000

Number of goods (10,000 pieces)

Number of goods

140
30,30530,00028,27026,005103.725,000

93.0

23,28023,934101.9
81.9

20,00026,942
88.3

58.9

60

9,143

40

5,0000(Note)

100
80

72.8

15,00010,000

120

20

2004

2011

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

0

The "number of cases" refers to the number of import declarations or postal items that included goods infringing
intellectual property rights whose import was prohibited by Customs. The "number of goods" means the number ofgoods infringing intellectual property rights whose import was prohibited by Customs.

* Website of the Ministry of Finance: http://www.mof.go.jp/policy/customs_tariff/trade/safe_society/chiteki/cy2022/index.htm
10(2) Import suspensions by source
The number of import suspensions remains at a high level, with imports from China being thelargest (20,461 cases; composition ratio: 75.9%; down by 6.5% from the previous year). The
number of goods suspended from import was also the largest for those from China (671,133 pieces;composition ratio: 76.0%; up by 9.0% (id.)). China's composition ratios remain to be high both interms of the number of cases and the number of articles.
Composition ratio of import suspensions by source (2022)(Based on the number of cases)
South Korea
2.4%

Philippines
2.3%(Based on the number of articles)

Others6.1%

South Singapore
Hong Korea
2.2%
Kong 3.5%
7.3%

Taiwan5.3%

Others3.0%

Vietnam
8.0%

Vietnam
7.9％

China
75.9%

China
76.0％

(Note) The total of composition ratios may not be 100% due to rounding.

(3) Import suspensions by item
The number of import suspensions was the largest for bags, such as wallets and handbags, at 9,045
cases (composition ratio: 28.1%; down by 5.5% from the previous year), and the number of articles
suspended from import was the largest for pharmaceuticals at 148,439 pieces (composition ratio:16.8%; up by approx. 7 times (id.)).
5Composition ratio of import suspensions by item (2022)(Based on the number of cases)(Based on the number of articles)(Note) The total of composition ratios may not be 100% due to rounding.

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(4) Major import suspensions regarding goods infringing intellectual property rights◆ Goods often subject to import suspensions
Bags (Trademark right)

Replica uniforms (Trademark right)◆ Goods for which import suspensions increased in 2022
Smartphone cases (Trademark right)

Tape cassettes (Patent right)◆ Goods posing a risk to people's health and safety
Water purifier cartridges(Trademark right)

Heated tobacco cartridges(Design right)

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2. Accusation Case Related to Goods Infringing Intellectual Property
RightsDuring the one-year period from January to December of 2022, customs made accusations in a totalof 9 smuggling cases.
[Case 1] Smuggling of goods infringing trademark rights
Customs accused a corporation and two Vietnamese
nationals that attempted to smuggle a total of 1,387 bags,etc. infringing trademark rights by the use ofinternational parcel post from China of violating theCustoms Act.
(Jun. 2022; Kobe Customs)[Case 2] Smuggling of goods infringing trademark rights
Customs accused a Filipino national who attempted tosmuggle a total of 389 towels, etc. infringing trademark
rights by the use of express small-lot air cargo andinternational mail from China of violating the Customs Act.
(Aug. 2022; Tokyo Customs)[Case 3] Smuggling of goods infringing trademark rights
Customs accused two Japanese nationals who attempted to smuggle a total of 155 pieces of clothes,etc. infringing trademark rights by the use of Express Mail Service from China of violating theCustoms Act.
(Dec. 2022; Moji Customs)

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