For those who are considering import of CBD products such as CBD oil※CBD means Cannabidiol.

Please be sure to read this explanation.
・The answer given by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in response toyour inquiry on whether the product you intend to import is considered to be ‘Cannabis’is based on the documents you submit. Therefore, the MHLW is not able to guaranteethat the product itself you intend to import does not meet the definition of ‘Cannabis’.
If it becomes necessary you may need to resubmit the documents you have submitted tothe MHLW to the Japan Customs or the MHLW when you import.
・Hence, even if the MHLW replies that ‘The product does not meet the definition ofCannabis’ based on the submitted documents, there is a possibility that you may bepunished for importing a product that is categorized in ‘Cannabis’ under the Cannabis
Control Act if THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is detected from the product you imported asa result of test conducted by the Japan Customs or the MHLW, or any other tests
conducted in Japan.
・The product cannot be returned if THC is detected in the test mentioned above, since
export of ‘Cannabis’ is prohibited as well.

【How to make the procedure】
・This procedure must be conducted by the importer.
・Only emails are acceptable. Please submit the series of documents as descried below in
3 to the【Contacts】via email with the name of the importer (If the importer is a Company,indicate the Company name and Name of the person in charge) and the contact number.
There is a case where we can’t receive attached files due to the large volume. So if it is alarge file, please split up, zip the files and send them separately.
・We will call the contact number mentioned in your email as soon as we confirm.
【Contacts】
・Department in charge: Narcotics Control Department, Kanto-Shin’etsu Regional Bureauof Health and Welfare
・Email address: CHECKCBD●mhlw.go.jp(Please replace ‘●’ to ‘@’ when you send an email. This is for anti-spampurpose.)1. Cannabis Restrictions① The term “Cannabis” under the Cannabis Control Act
・The term ”Cannabis” means the cannabis plant (Cannabis Sativa, L.) and its
products.
・However, the grown stalk of the cannabis plant and its products (excluding resin)
and the seed of the cannabis plant and its products are excluded.
・ In Japan, only the “Cannabis Handler” (Cannabis Cultivator ・ CannabisResearcher) who is licensed by the prefectural governor is permitted to cultivate,
possess, receive and transfer cannabis, and persons who are not Cannabis
Handlers are punished if they commit these acts.
・Imports of cannabis is only permitted for research purposes in cases in which theCannabis Researcher receives authorization from the Minister of Health, Labourand Welfare.
② Prohibited Acts・ Import/export, cultivation, possession, acquisition and transfer of Cannabis isprohibited as a general rule.
・There are strict punishments for those who commit prohibited acts.
Acts

Punishment

Cultivation/Import

Simple Possession: Sentenced to no more than 7 years inand Export

prison (for profit: Sentenced to no more than 10 years inprison + fine of no more than 3,000,000 yen)

Possession/Receiving Simple Possession: Sentenced to no more than 5 years inand Transferring
prison (for profit: Sentenced to no more than 7 years inprison + fine of no more than 2,000,000 yen)

2. CBD Products・CBD Products that are extracted or manufactured from the parts besides the grownstalk or the seed of the cannabis plant (leaves, buds, branches and roots, etc…) areconsidered to be “cannabis”.
・Whether the CBD products are derived or manufactured from the cannabis plant,
CBD products that contain Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannot be imported since
they cannot be confirmed that they are not categorized in “cannabis”. In addition,
chemically synthesized THC cannot be imported as a general rule since it iscategorized in “Narcotics” under the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act.

※ Imports of “Cannabis” is permitted in cases in which the Cannabis Researcher isgranted authority by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.
※ Imports of “Narcotics” is permitted in cases in which the Narcotics Importer isgranted authority by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.
・Imports, exports, possession, acquisition and transfer of CBD products that arecategorized in “Cannabis” may result in punishment.
・Chemically synthesized CBD product is not restricted; however a person may be
asked to confirm that it is not categorized in “Cannabis” when importing.

3. Imports of CBD products
・For the import of CBD products, send the following documents to the 【contacts】
via e-mail beforehand. (Please refer to the 【Contacts】for the e-mail address)
・Prior to importation, the CBD product will be determined whether it is categorizedin “Cannabis” under the Cannabis Control Act based on the submitted documents.
Case A【If the CBD product which you intend to import is derived from cannabis plant】<Required Documents>
All documents must be obtained from the manufacturer of the CBD product.
Documents can be written in any form.
Please send the documents obtained from the manufacturer via email.
In the e-mail, please be sure to include the following:・Name of importer (if the importer is a company, indicate the company name and thename of the person in charge)
・Contact number of importer① Certificate
A document that certifies that it is a CBD product produced using a synthesized CBD● The certificate must include the following:
・The date of documentation
・Title and signature of the person in charge of the manufacturer
・An indication that the CBD contained in the CBD product is extracted and produced
from the grown stalk or the seed of a cannabis plant② Substance Analysis Report
An analysis report that indicates the test results of the CBD product to be imported.
● The analysis report must include the following:・Test results for THC and CBD・The date of documentation of the report or the date of testing・A number that can identify the CBD product such as lot number
・Signature and title of the person in charge of the analytical institution or the testconductor
・Test method and the Limit of Detection (LOD)③ Photos
A photo of the raw material and the manufacturing process of CBD<Raw Materials>
・A photo that certifies that the grown stalk or the seed of the cannabis plant is used (aphoto that certifies that cannabis leaves, buds, branches, roots, etc… are not used) as
the raw material of CBD.
・An entire photo of the part where the raw material is obtained such as the stalk isrequired since it cannot be confirmed that it does not contain any root or branch witha partial image of the raw material.
<Manufacturing Process>・Examples:
A photo showing where the grown stalk of the cannabis plant is added into anequipment.
A photo showing where the substances are extracted from the grown stalk of thecannabis plant.
・A photo is something to confirm that raw materials besides the grown stalk or theseeds of the cannabis plant are NOT used, so it is not limited to the examples above.
It may not be able to confirm if the photo of the raw material or the manufacturing
process is blurry.

Case B【If the CBD product which you intend to import is not derived from cannabis plant】<Required Documents>
All documents must be obtained from the manufacturer of the CBD product.
Documents can be written in any form.
Please send the documents obtained from the manufacturer via email.
In the e-mail, please be sure to note the following:・Name of importer (if the importer is a company, indicate the company name and theperson in charge)
・contact number of importer① Certificate
A document that certifies that it is a CBD product produced using a synthesized CBD.
●The certificate must include the following
・Substance name of the raw material
・Synthesize method
・The date of documentation
・Title and signature of the person in charge of the manufacturer
・ An indication that the CBD contained in the CBD product is obtained throughchemical synthesis② Substance Analysis Report
An analysis report that indicates the test results of the CBD product to be imported.
●The analysis report must include the following:・Test results for THC and CBD・The date of documentation of the report or the date of testing・A number that can identify the CBD product such as lot number
・Signature and title of the person in charge of the analytical institution or the testconductor
・Test method and the Limit of Detection (LOD)

4.

For those who received the “Notice of Customs Clearance Procedure for Postal
Matters from Abroad”

Because it may be considered to be “cannabis” under the Cannabis Control Act, inaddition to the documents mentioned in 3, please send an e-mail including thefollowing information.
・Name and contact information of the customs where your postal item is stored
・Notification number
・Name of importer (if the importer is a company, indicate the company name and thename of the person in charge)
・Contact number of importer