People who intend to import any listed species of animals or plants under the CITES are required to receive an export permit/a re-export certificate* issued by the government of the exporting country and for certain listed species, required to receive a certificate of import approval* or a certificate of prior-confirmation* by the METI Minister.
When you intend to import such listed species, you are required to complete necessary procedures, including import approval*, prior confirmation*, and customs confirmation,* depending on the type of the goods that you intend to import. The first step is to identify which Appendix from Ⅰ to Ⅲ the goods belong to.
- *Notes:
- An export permit/a re-export certificate: Document showing the permission of exports issued by the CITES Management Authorities in the originating country (CITES Export Permit/Re-export certificate)
- Certificate of import approval: Document issued by the METI Minister in response to the application filed for import of the species listed in Appendix Ⅰ.
- Certificate of prior confirmation: Document issued by the METI Minister showing prior confirmation in response to the application filed for import of living animals or species listed in Appendices Ⅱ and Ⅲ.
- Import approval: Procedure involving imports of species listed in Appendix Ⅰ
- Prior confirmation: Procedure involving imports of living animals or certain species listed in Appendices Ⅱ and Ⅲ.
- Customs confirmation: Customs procedure involving imports of finished products listed in Appendices Ⅱ and Ⅲ, not requiring prior confirmation by the METI Minister
Identifying the type of goods that you intend to import
If you already know which Appendix (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, or Ⅲ) your import goods belong to, click here.
The first step is to identify which CITES Appendix category (I, II, or III) the animals and/or plants belong to. The scientific name of the animals and/or plants in Latin is required to identify the correct category. Please contact the manufacturers, producers, factories, and so forth to confirm the scientific name.
- Please click the following links and identify the CITES Appendix (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, or Ⅲ) to which the species of animals or plants that you intend to import belong.
- The Appendices show scientific names in Latin or globally common names in English of the species. Please verify the scientific(Latin) name of your goods.
- Please note that the species are sometimes included in a higher taxon groups, such as Crocodylia spp.
- CITES procedures are NOT required for goods not listed in the Appendices.
Flow chart of import procedures (in Japanese)
Application counter
Service hours
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Contact counters
| Contact counter of import approval/Prior confirmation (finished products (stuffed animals, tanned leather, leather products, serum, blood plasma, DNA, etc.)) | Contact number |
|---|---|
| Trade Licensing for Wild Animal and Plants, Trade Licensing Division, Trade Control Department, Trade and Economic Security Bureau, METI 14th floor, 1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8901 *Applications are only accepted by post. |
Tel: 03-3501-1723 Fax: 03-3501-0997 10:00-12:00 a.m., 1:00-5:00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays except holidays of administrative organizations |
| Contact counters of prior confirmation: (living animals) | Contact number |
|---|---|
| Trade Licensing for Wild Animal and Plants, Trade Licensing Division, Trade Control Department, Trade and Economic Security Bureau, METI 14th floor, West Wing 8 of the METI Main Building, 1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8901 *Applications are only accepted by post. |
Tel: 03-3501-1723 Fax: 03-3501-0997 10:00-12:00 a.m., 1:00-5:00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays except holidays of administrative organizations |
| International Affairs Division, General Coordination and Policy Planning Department, Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Sapporo No. 1 Godo-chosha Building, North 8, West 2, Kita-ku, Sapporo City, 060-0808 |
Tel: 011-709-1752 Fax: 011-709-1798 |
| International Affairs Division, General Coordination and Policy Planning Department, Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry 3-3-1 Honcho, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, 980-8403 |
Tel: 022-221-4907 Fax: 022-261-7390 |
| General Affairs Division, Tokyo International Trade Office Yushima Godo-chosha Building, 4-6-15 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034 |
Tel: 03-5842-7071 Fax: 03-5689-7841 |
| General Affairs Division, Yokohama International Trade Office 10F Yokohama Media and Communications Center 11 Nihon-Odori, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 231-0021 |
Tel: 045-212-1105 Fax: 045-201-7156 |
| Regional Economy Division, International Affairs Department, Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry 2-5-2 Sannomaru Naka-ku, Nagoya City, 460-8510 |
Tel: 052-951-4091 Fax: 052-961-7829 |
| Trade Division, Trade Department, Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry 1-5-44, Ohtemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, 540-8535 |
Tel: 06-6966-6034 Fax: 06-6966-6088 |
| General Affairs Division, Kobe International Trade Office 5th floor, Kobe Local Joint Government Building, 29, Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, 650-0024 |
Tel: 078-393-2682 Fax: 078-393-2685 |
| International Affairs Division, Industry Department, Chugoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshima No. 2 Godo-chosha Building, 6-30, Kami Hatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, 730-8531 |
Tel: 082-224-5659 Fax: 082-224-5642 |
| International Affairs Division, Industry Department, Shikoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Takamatsu Sunport Godo-chosha Building, 3-33 Sunport, Takamatsu City, 760-8512 |
Tel: 087-811-8525 Fax: 087-811-8565 |
| International Affairs Division, International Affairs Department, Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Fukuoka Godo-chosha Building, 2-11-1, Hakata Eki Higashi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8546 |
Tel: 092-482-5425 Fax: 092-482-5321 |
| Commerce and Trade Division, Economy and Industry Department, Okinawa General Bureau, Cabinet Office Second Naha Government Office Building No. 2, 2-1-1 Omoromachi, Naha City, 900-0006 |
Tel: 098-866-1731 Fax: 098-860-3710 |
Last updated:2025-03-14