JCSM Shareware Collection 1993 November/JCSM Shareware Collection - 1993-11.iso/cl060/japanj.lzh/JAP23

Text File | 1992-10-28 | 12.7 KB | 223 lines

                          CUSTOMS CLEARANCE

          Customs Documentation:  While customs procedures have been
          simplified in recent years, a number of documents are still
          required for clearance through customs.  These include:
          (1) for import quota items, an import license, usually
          valid for four months from date of issuance; (2) an Import
          Declaration Form (Customs Form C 5030); (3) shipping
          documents such as a commercial invoice, packing list, and
          an original and signed bill of lading, or, if shipped by
          air, an air waybill; (4) a certificate of origin if the
          goods are entitled to favorable duty treatment
          (preferential or GATT rates; in practice, shipments from
          the United States are routinely assessed the GATT or
          "temporary" rates without a certificate or origin); (5) any
          additional documents necessary as proof of compliance with
          relevant Japanese laws and standards regulations.  To be
          certain that all required documentation is provided at the
          time your shipment arrives in Japan, consult with your
          agent/importer.

              Commercial Invoice:  All shipments regardless of value
              require at least two copies of the commercial invoice.
              The invoice must be on shipper's letterhead and signed
              by the shipper or an approved representative.  This
              document is used to determine the value of goods being
              imported and should include:  the complete name and
              address of the shipper, full description of goods and
              tariff classification, number of units shipped, unit
              price, total price, and country or origin of goods.

              Packing List:  A packing list is recommended and should
              provide the following information: exact description of
              all items in the shipment, the gross and net weight of
              each package, the exterior measurements of each
              package, the total number of shipping containers, and
              gross weight and gross measurement.  Units of measure
              must be in metric on both documents and goods.

              Bill of Lading:  Three signed original bills of lading
              should be sent through banking channels, and at least
              two unsigned copies should be forwarded to the
              consignee.  For goods sent by air, a standard set of
              ten (one original and nine copies) should be made
              available.

              Certificate of Origin:  A certificate of origin is
              required only when the goods are to be granted duty
              concessions under GATT or the Generalized System of
              Preferences.  Such documents are often authenticated by
              a local chamber of commerce or by a Japanese consular
              or diplomatic official.

              Import License:  Most goods now qualify as "freely
              importable" and do not require an import license.  The
              only exception is for those commodities falling under
              import quotas in which case the Japanese importer would
              obtain the license (see section on quotas).

          Packing, Marking, and Labeling:  Straw packing materials
          are prohibited.  The Japanese Measurement Law requires that
          all imported products and shipping documents show metric
          weights and measures.  There is no law requiring display of
          the identity of the place of origin.  However, if labels
          indicating origin are determined to be false or misleading,
          the labels must be removed or corrected.  Otherwise the
          goods will be returned to country of origin.  False or
          misleading labels which display the names of countries,
          regions, or flags other than the country of origin, and/or
          names of manufacturers or designers outside the country of
          origin are not permissible.

          There are no generic regulations for the marking of
          packages, but certain goods such as food, drugs, cosmetics,
          clothing, and electrical appliances are covered by specific
          regulations outlined, respectively, in the Food Sanitation
          Law, the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, ordinances of the
          Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Electrical
          Appliance Control Law.  As such regulations apply to
          specific products, it is important to work with a
          prospective agent/importer to ensure your product meets
          requirements.

          In general, most labeling laws are not required at the
          customs clearance stage, but at the point of sale.
          Consequently, it is most common for Japanese importers to
          affix a label before or after clearing customs.

          Health and Sanitary Requirements -- Inspection
          Certificates:  Japanese health and sanitary regulations are
          strictly enforced.  All imported plants and soils, animals,
          meat, and viscera of animals must be accompanied by a
          phytosanitary inspection certificate issued by the
          government of the exporting country attesting that such
          shipments are free from infectious materials or diseases.
          Additional information is available from the Animal and
          Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of
          Agriculture, Hyattsville, MD 20782, [phone]
          (Veterinary Services) and [phone] (Plant Protection
          and Quarantine).

          Japan's Food Sanitation Law requires that an Import
          Notification Form must be submitted for all food products
          at the time of import to ensure all standards governing
          foodstuffs have been met.  The use of chemicals and other
          additives in foods is severely restricted in Japan.  The
          additive regulations follow a "positive list" approach
          which indicates only those additives which are permitted,
          their maximum tolerable amount, and the foods in which the
          additives may be used.  Cosmetics are governed by similar
          restrictions covering permissible ingredients.  Additional
          information on specific regulations is available through
          the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Food Safety
          and Technical Services at [phone], or the U.S.
          Department of Commerce, Japan Export Information Center at
          [phone].

          Import Quotas:  Japan has in effect two quota systems:  a
          quantity allocated quota and a tariff quota.  The quantity
          allocated quota is applied to imports of some dairy
          products, fish, grain staples, and coal.  Import of these
          items requires an Import Quota Certificate issued by the
          Ministry of International Trade and Industry through an
          import notice system granting allocation twice a year. The
          quota certificate is valid for four months.  Once the
          certificate is obtained, an application for approval is
          then made to an authorized foreign exchange bank which
          issues the import license.

          A tariff quota is in effect for cheese, maize, oats, malt,
          preparations of cocoa without sugar, some tomato products,
          pineapples, some alcohol materials used as base of
          alcoholic beverages, leather, and leather footwear.  For
          items subject to an import tariff quota, a lower primary
          duty rate is applied until the quantity exceeds the quota
          threshold at which time a higher duty is assessed.  To
          apply for the primary duty rate an importer must obtain a
          quota allocation in advance from the Ministry of
          International Trade and Industry.  Current quota volumes
          and duty rates are listed in the yearly publication of the
          Japanese tariff schedule.

          Tariffs:  According to the Japanese Government, the average
          tariff is now one of the world's lowest at 3.4 percent.
          However, import duties on some agricultural items and
          certain manufactured goods remain relatively high.  As part
          of their import incentive program, the Japanese expanded
          the list of duty-free manufactured products in April 1990
          by 1,004 items and reduced the tariff on four more.
          Consequently, almost all machinery imports are now tariff
          free.

          Tariffs are administered by the Customs Bureau of the
          Ministry of Finance.  Japan is a member of the Harmonized
          System Convention and therefore shares the same
          classification system as the United States up to
          six-digits.  Duties are assessed on the c.i.f. value (cost,
          insurance, and freight) at ad valorem or specific rates,
          and in a few instances are charged a combination of both.

          Japan's tariff schedule has four columns:  general, GATT,
          preferential, and temporary.  Goods from the United States
          are charged GATT rates unless a lesser temporary rate has
          been instituted. Japan's preferential system of tariffs
          grants lower or duty-free rates to products imported from
          developing countries.

          In addition to the customs duty, a 3 percent consumption
          tax (general excise tax) (6 percent on autos) is levied on
          all goods sold in Japan and payment is required at the time
          of import declaration. The consumption tax is assessed on
          the c.i.f. value of the product plus the import duty.
          Refer to the section on taxation for more information.

          Duties and consumption tax are payable when making an
          import declaration at the time of customs clearance by the
          importer.  The Import Declaration Form (Customs Form C
          5030) is filled out by the importing company and is used as
          an import declaration as well as a tax payment declaration
          form.

          Sample and Advertising Materials:  Japan is a member of the
          International Convention to Facilitate the Importation of
          Commercial Samples and Advertising Materials under the ATA
          Carnet System.  Use of a carnet allows goods such as
          commercial and exhibition samples, professional equipment,
          musical instruments, and TV cameras to be carried or sent
          temporarily into a foreign country without paying duties or
          posting bonds.  A carnet should be arranged for in advance
          by contacting a local office of the United States Council
          for International Business or the New York office at (212)
          354-4480.  Fees are based on the value of goods to be
          shipped.  Processing time takes generally five business
          days.

          Advertising materials, including brochures, films, and
          photographs, may enter Japan duty free.  A commercial
          invoice for brochures and literature for free distribution
          must have either the actual or estimated value of the cost
          of production.  Do not use the term "no charge."

          Articles intended for display at trade fairs and similar
          events are also permitted to enter duty free but are
          required to be reexported within one year.  A commercial
          invoice for these goods should be marked "no commercial
          value, customs purposes only" and "these goods are for
          exhibition and are to be returned after conclusion of the
          exhibition."

          Free Trade Zones and Bonded Areas:  Japan has one free
          trade zone at Naha on Okinawa.  In addition, there are five
          kinds of bonded areas:  designated bonded areas, bonded
          sheds, bonded warehouses, bonded factories, and bonded
          exhibition sites.  Goods may be stored in bonded areas for
          up to two years; however, storage fees are high.  Duties
          are payable only when the goods are cleared through
          customs.