Can you bring charcoal on a plane?

Charcoal on flights in and from Japan

The rule for charcoal comes from the Civil Aviation Bureau's list of restricted items and is the same on domestic and international flights.

Charcoal for burning, charcoal for filtering, and coal

Japan's list sorts charcoal by what it is for, not by what it is made of. Other authorities name only the barbecue kind.

Coal is allowed, charcoal for burning is not

The charcoal and activated carbon entry on Japan's list is followed directly by a row for coal, including anthracite, which is marked ○ for carry-on, ○ for checked baggage and labelled non-dangerous goods. Charcoal meant for burning, in the entry above, is marked × and ×. A lump of coal and a bag of barbecue charcoal therefore get opposite answers at a Japanese airport.

The UN test exception and the safety data sheet

Burning charcoal may travel if UN testing has shown it is not dangerous. The Civil Aviation Bureau explains that dangerous goods are judged under the UN recommendations known as Tests and Criteria, and says to check with the manufacturer whether a product can go by air. Its list adds that an item judged non-dangerous on a safety data sheet (SDS) or a maker's document is carried without restriction.

What the allowed row asks for

The ○ row covers charcoal and activated carbon for purifying or for filtering water, in carry-on and in checked baggage. Its single condition is that the item has been processed into a product. The list sets no quantity for this row, and it does not say how the purpose of the charcoal is to be shown at the checkpoint.

Barbecue charcoal on other lists

Outside Japan the lists we read name only charcoal for fires. South Korea's dangerous goods page gives barbecue charcoal and ignition coal as examples of flammable solids. Hong Kong's CAD forbids flammable solids in carry-on and checked baggage, with barbeque charcoal fire starters as its example. Australia's CASA names coal alongside charcoal in its forbidden briquettes entry, where Japan's list lets coal through.

• Camping lanterns and stoves
• Petrol and kerosene

Charcoal: the rule country by country

Charcoal is not allowed in carry-on in Australia.

Each row comes from that authority's own page. Airlines can be stricter, and the screening officer has the final say.

If security in Japan will not let charcoal through

What to do

Move charcoal to the bag you check in before you reach security, within the checked-baggage limits above. Narita Airport states that anything given up at the checkpoint is discarded and cannot be returned.

Buying charcoal in Japan

Where to buy

Home centres and supermarkets, in barbecue season.

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