Japan Updates List of Approved Raw Milk/Milk Product Exporters

On August 4, 2017, Japan appended the list of countries approved to export raw milk/milk products. Ukraine and Puerto Rico are newly added.

In order to prevent zoonotic epidemics such as FMD (foot-and-mouth disease), Japan has set strict requirements on milk product importation. Generally speaking, the export country must be free from foot-and-mouth disease, and animals should be healthy. Rules also stipulate that a health certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of origin should accompany all raw milk/milk products arriving in Japan on and after 1 November 2017.

Only raw milk and milk not subject to heat treatment from listed countries are permitted. Countries, regions and zones recognized by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan are listed here.