Can I bring cheese to Japan?

Cheese and other dairy products at the Japanese border

This is decided when you land in Japan, by the quarantine services. Airport security at your departure airport is a separate check.

Dairy products such as butter and cheese that you carry in your personal baggage are exempted from animal quarantine requirements. An inspection certificate from the exporting country is preferable only if they are for commercial or business use, over 10kg, or used for feed.

In personal baggage

exempted from animal quarantine requirements

Certificate preferable if

for commercial or business use, over 10kg, or used for feed

Exclusion Criteria, Standard 55

not for sale or commercial use and 10 kg or less (feed excluded)

Dairy quarantine rules in force since

1 November 2017 (personal baggage is exempted)

Cheese and dairy at the quarantine counter

Dairy products carried as personal baggage are exempted from animal quarantine requirements. An inspection certificate is described only as preferable, for commercial or business use, over 10kg, or feed.

Related items

• Meat and meat products
• Ham, sausage, bacon and salami
• Jerky and dried meat
• Meat buns, dumplings and gimbap
• Leftover in-flight meals
• Fresh fruit