Designated drugs are dangerous drugs designated by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare. For more information on the scope of designated dangerous drugs, please refer to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s website. The importation of designated drugs for purposes other than medical use is prohibited. In addition, methamphetamine is regulated by the Stimulants Control Law, marijuana by the Cannabis Control Law, narcotics and psychotropic drugs by the Narcotics Control Law, and opium and poppy seeds by the Opium Law, so they are not considered designated drugs.
There are products called “legal drugs” that are sold on the Internet, claiming to have hallucinogenic effects, but they often fall under the category of designated drugs even if they do not fall under the category of narcotics, marijuana, or stimulants. In addition, drugs that do not fall under the category of designated drugs, but they claim to have hallucinogenic effects, it falls under the category of unapproved “drugs” and are prohibited from being sold or advertised to in Japan.
Drugs
In principle, importation of drugs such as marijuana, stimulants, narcotics, psychotropic substances, and opium is prohibited.
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Restricted Subject |
Import Regulations |
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Cannabis Control Law |
Marijuana (Cannabis plant, Cannabis plant products) |
Importation is prohibited except for marijuana researchers who import with a permit. An import permit or a copy of the permit is required for importation. |
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Stimulants Control Law (1951) |
Stimulant |
Import is prohibited |
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Methamphetamine ingredients (ephedrine) |
remarks |
Importing requires a permit. Customs requires a “Permit for the importation of methamphetamine materials or a copy thereof. |
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Individual Purposes |
Permission may be granted to carry and import “methamphetamine materials that are medicinal products” for the purpose of treating one’s own illness. Customs requires a “Permit for the importation of methamphetamine materials or a copy thereof. |
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Import by Designated importers |
Designated importers of methamphetamine materials may obtain a permit to import. Customs will require the import permit or a copy thereof. |
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Narcotic |
Remarks |
A permit is required for import. |
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Individual Purposes |
Medical narcotics (morphine/fentanyl) may be approved for importation by a person who has been instructed by a physician to take them and carry them as baggage for the purpose of treating his or her own illness. Customs requires a “Portable Import Permit” or a copy thereof. |
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Licensed drug importers |
In the case of importation by a licensed drug importer, an import license is required, and customs will require an import permit or a copy of the permit. |
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Psychotropic drug |
Remarks |
A permit is required for importation. |
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Individual Purposes |
Permission may be granted to carry and import medical psychotropic drugs (diazepam, triazolam) for the purpose of treating one’s own illness. Customs will require an import permit or a copy of the permit. |
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Licensed psychotropic drug importers |
○A permit is required for the importation of psychotropic drugs of the first class. ○For the importation of Class 2 or 3 psychotropic drugs, import approval based on the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law is required instead of requiring a permit based on the Narcotics Control Law. In addition, if the government of the exporting country requires an import certificate from the government of Japan, it is necessary to obtain an import certificate and send it to the exporter in the other country. ○When the importation of “Class 1”, “Class 2” or “Class 3” psychotropic substances for which the government of the exporting country requires an import certificate” is completed, a psychotropic substance import completion report must be submitted. |
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Establishers of psychotropic drug testing and research facilities |
○An import permit or a copy of the permit is required. ○When the importation is completed, a psychotropic drug import completion report must be submitted. |
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Ingredients for narcotic psychotropic drugs |
Remarks |
At the time of importation of narcotic psychotropic raw materials, an import permit based on the Narcotics Control Law is not required, but an import approval based on the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law is necessary. |
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For Business Purposes |
Importers of narcotic ingredients are required to submit a notification at the time of commencement of business, as well as in the case of individual imports of specified narcotic psychotropic raw materials. |
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For Non-Business Purposes |
○No notification of commencement of work is required. ○Notification is required when importing narcotic psychotropic materials that exceed the amount specified for each narcotic psychotropic material. |
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Opium Law |
Opium |
Importation is prohibited except for those who have been entrusted by the government. |
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Poppy seed |
A permit is required for importation. |
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Please contact us if you have any questions.