Browse Data and Analysis

On August 24, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) suspended all imports of aquatic products (including edible aquatic animals) from Japan, effective immediately.

Japan is one of the world’s leading consumers of seafood. In 2022, it imported $15 billion of seafood products, making it the world’s third largest importer. Half of Japan’s seafood demand is met by imports. The United States is the third largest seafood supplier to Japan, specializing in salmon, cod, pollock, herring, crab, and lobster.

On November 26, 2020, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock enacted the Fisheries and Fisheries (Inspection and Quality Control) Act 2020 to enforce new laws reflecting the repealed provision of the Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Ordinance 1983.

On November 14, 2018, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock enacted the Fish Quarantine Act 2018 which issues provisions regarding pathogens and quarantine of fish and fish products. The Act covers the fish quarantine authority; import permits, controls, restrictions, bans, and detentions; and fish pathogen restrictions and elimination.

Japan will require importers of U.S. products containing mackerel, Pacific saury, sardine, squid and cuttlefish to submit a newly approved Catch Certificate issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The requirement extends to all seafood originating from these species if the marine product is harvested after November 30, 2022.

On April 26, 2022, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries designated mackerel, Pacific saury, sardine, squid and cuttlefish as vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. From December 1, 2022, Japan will require catch certificates to import products containing these species as a main ingredient.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) released precautional notes explaining its food safety regulatory vision for fish products developed using genome editing technology.

On December 4, 2020, Japan passed the Adjustment for the Domestic Distribution of Specified Marine Animals and Plants Act to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Fresh oyster imports to Japan must comply with Japan’s (i) Specific Standard for Oysters for Raw Consumption and (ii) Handling of Toxic Shellfish Contaminated with Paralytic and Diarrheal Shellfish...

Japan has accepted the sanitary certificate issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for fresh oysters exported by eligible U.S. entities.

From June 1, 2020, Japan will require the use of a revised sanitary certificate for fresh oyster exports.

This report contains major export certificates that the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) requires from U.S. agricultural product exporters.