How to import CBD in the best way

2022.09.12

For those who want to import cannabis-derived and orange-derived

CBD to Japan in the fastest way…

 

Cannabidiol (or CBD for short), which has brought a lot of attention in Japan in recent years, is gaining popularity in many fields from the medical, beauty, and health industries.

However, it is definitely an area to be handled with caution, as one wrong move and it is considered illegal.

As an example, on July 13, 2022, two CBD products imported from a Japanese company were THC detected.

 

In this latter case, THC was detected by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website. (Click here)

Followed by another case where THC was detected again on February 20, 2020. (Click here)

 

THC Free label

If many of these conditions occur in Japan, it is undeniable that even the suppliers of good products will become suspect, and consumers will start to be apprehensive about CBD itself.

For this reason, we will once again provide a method for importers to identify products to be imported from Japan, and for importers to handle CBD with peace of mind through the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) with all the necessary documentation.

 

So let’s have a look at these sections below, taken from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare website.

 


CBD formula

 

Excerpts from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare website
“The response to the question of whether or not a product falls under the category of “marijuana” given by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in accordance with this guide is based solely on the data submitted to the Ministry. The MHLW will not determine whether or not the product you actually intend to import falls under the category of “marijuana”. In some cases, the materials submitted to the MHLW may need to be submitted again to Customs or the MHLW when the importation is actually carried out. Consequently, even in cases where the MHLW responds that the product “does not fall under the category of marijuana” based on the submitted materials, if THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is detected at customs or MHLW inspection at the time of importation or during domestic testing, the importation of the product “falls under the category of marijuana” will be deemed to be an import of “marijuana” and will be punished under the Marijuana Control Law. The export of “marijuana” is also subject to the Marijuana Control Law. If THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is detected in the above test or in Japan, you may be punished under the Cannabis Control Law as if you have imported “marijuana”.”

 

This above statement, in short, means that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is making a judgment on the documents (not actually confirming the production), and therefore the documents could be falsified.
It also means that if the CBD is transported from another country and THC is detected and no import permit is granted to Japan, this transported CBD may be destroyed.
It is important to be prepared for these risks when importing.

 


Advanced Botanical Testing

 

Excerpts from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare website
“Please note that this procedure is to be performed by the importer. In principle, no inquiries by telephone will be accepted. In the body of the e-mail, please include the importer’s name (if the importer is a company, the name of the company and the name of the person in charge) and contact telephone number, and attach the set of documents listed in 3 below, addressed to the e-mail address in the “Contact Information” section. Please note that we will not be able to receive large file attachments, so please send multiple e-mails with large files attached as split and compressed zip files. We will call you at the address indicated in the e-mail as soon as it is confirmed. If any of the submitted documents are incomplete, it may take some time before we can respond to your application. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us by phone or e-mail. (E-mail address: CHECKCBD●mhlw.go.jp (Please replace ● with @ due to anti-spam measures)”

 

This statement explains that you have to prepare all the documents as described and send them to the email listed, but you should be aware that it is almost impossible to get the documents through in one shot.
Since the examiners are also human, some of them may be very meticulous about the documents you submit, depending on the person in charge of your application.

Additionally, if the submitted documents are incomplete or extra documents are requested, you will have to wait another month for re-submission, which is usually a one-month wait.

 

In addition, since CBD imports are said to be on the increase these days, you should expect it to take one to two months even if everything goes smoothly, and three months if there are any irregularities or redoing of the documents.

 


CBD certification

 

Excerpts from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare website
“CBD products that are extracted and manufactured from parts of the cannabis plant other than the mature stems or seeds (e.g., leaves, flowering plants, branches, and roots) are considered “cannabis”. CBD products containing even trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a component derived from the cannabis plant, regardless of whether they are extracted or manufactured from the cannabis plant, cannot in principle be imported, as it cannot be confirmed that they do not qualify as “cannabis”. In addition, chemically synthesized THC is regulated as a “narcotic” under the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law, and therefore cannot be imported in principle. Importation of “marijuana” is allowed only when a marijuana researcher has obtained a license from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare. Importation of “narcotics” is allowed only when a narcotics importer is licensed by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare. The importation, possession, transfer, or receipt of CBD products that fall under the category of “marijuana” may be subject to penalties. The importation of chemically synthesized CBD products is not regulated, however, importers may be required to confirm that the CBD products are not “marijuana”. When importing CBD products, please submit the following information to the “Contact Information” via e-mail prior to each importation (the e-mail address for submitting the information can be found at the “Contact Information”). (Please refer to the “Contact Information” for the e-mail address to which the materials should be sent.) The following information must be submitted in advance of importation of CBD products by e-mail to [contact person] (see [contact information] for the e-mail address to which the information should be sent). If there are any modifications or changes to the submitted materials (including changes to lot numbers), we will promptly make corrections or changes to the submitted materials. If there are any modifications or changes to the submitted materials (including changes to the lot number), please submit the modified or changed materials as soon as possible.”

 

As stated above, Japan can only import CBD extracted from the “stem” and “seed” parts.
You will need to provide a good documentary proof that there is zero THC.

Every CBD product has a LOT number. The LOT number must match the LOT number on the certified analysis documents.

 


CBD PureForm Analysis 1

 

Excerpts from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare website
“All documentation must be obtained from the manufacturer of the CBD product. All documents can be in any format. Please send the documents obtained from the manufacturer via email. If you submit the documents by e-mail, please make the subject line of the e-mail “Prior Confirmation of CBD Products” and include the following information in the body of the e-mail: ・Name of the importer (if the importer is a company, the name of the company and the name of the person in charge) ・Contact telephone number of the importer ・Product name and lot number of the CBD product to be imported (a number that identifies the product to be imported). Please be sure to include the product name and lot number of the CBD product to be imported (a number that identifies the product to be imported), and attach the submitted documents to the e-mail.”

 

This last part is to say that all documentation must be imported from the manufacturer. Since all the documents are written in English, the importer must check and recognize all the products he/she is importing on the documents.
Nowadays, there are convenient tools such as Google Translate, so those who are not fluent in English should use such a translator to understand what is written in the documents before submitting them.

As long as the documents are in order, there is no problem.

The bottom line is how cooperative the manufacturer is and how promptly they send you the documents.

 


 

 

Japan is the most restrictive and cumbersome country for CBD imports compared to other countries, and some manufacturers are even reluctant to export to Japan.
It is best to take this into consideration when considering which companies to work with for importation.

 

Importing CBD is not an easy task.
There are many risks involved, and you are responsible for bringing it into Japan.
You need to be prepared to import CBD yourself.

 

So if yo want to import CBD as a beginner, do not hesitate to ask for support!

 


CBD California Trading Company is ready to help you!

TEL: 03-6681-0113

or

info@cbdcalifornia.work

Please feel free to contact us!


We will be happy to assist you in importing CBD.

 

 

CBD California Trading Company

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