Importing toys for young children into Japan: what the Food Sanitation Act means for Amazon sellers

Short answer: in Japan, toys intended for young children are regulated under the Food Sanitation Act, not only as general consumer products. Each import for sale needs an import notification to a quarantine station, and the materials must meet the specifications set for them. Plan this before you book your first shipment to Amazon Japan.

Which toys are covered?

The Act covers "designated toys" — toys intended for infants, applied in practice to children under 6 years old. A toy labeled for an age range that includes children under 6 (for example "ages 5–8") is generally treated as covered. Whether a specific product is covered depends on its target age, how it is used (for example, whether it naturally touches the mouth) and how it is marketed, so we check each item.

What is required?

• Import notification: for each shipment imported for sale, the importer submits an import notification to the quarantine station that covers the port or airport of arrival. It can be filed in advance, up to 7 days before the goods arrive.
• Specifications: materials must meet the standards set for designated toys (for example, limits on certain substances in plastics and paints). Test reports from an accredited laboratory make the review smoother.
• Inspection: depending on the product and its history, the quarantine station may require an inspection before release.

If the notification is missing or the materials do not meet the specifications, the goods cannot be released for sale.

Who is the importer?

If you sell under your own Amazon.co.jp seller account, you are the importer. A foreign company can import without a Japanese company by appointing an Attorney for Customs Procedures (ACP) in Japan. The import notification is made for you as the importer.

How LUCK-LOGI handles toy shipments

1. Screening first: send us the product list, target ages, materials and any test reports. We tell you which items are likely to be designated toys and what is needed. We do not say "no problem" before we have checked.
2. ACP and notification: Fujiya Trade acts as your ACP and helps prepare the import notification.
3. Clearance: our partner customs broker clears the goods once the notification is accepted.
4. FBA prep: we label (FNSKU), prepare and deliver to Amazon.co.jp fulfillment centers.

Prepare these before the first shipment

• Product list with target age and photos
• Materials list for each part (plastics, paints, fabrics)
• Test reports from an accredited laboratory, if you have them
• Commercial invoice with HS codes and unit values

This guide explains how we work. It is not legal or tax advice. Requirements are confirmed for each product and shipment.

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