What happens
Roses or phalaenopsis brought in from overseas for a display can be stopped at the plant quarantine counter.
Without the certificate, flowers timed to arrive for the opening are destroyed or returned before they reach the venue.
Why this happens
The Plant Protection Act exists to keep pests and diseases from entering Japan from abroad.
To bring cut flowers into Japan, you attach a phytosanitary certificate issued by the government of the exporting country, and the shipment is inspected by a plant protection officer on arrival.
Plants without a certificate can be destroyed.
Importing without the certificate, bringing plants in without the officer's inspection, or bringing in prohibited items without permission can carry imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to three million yen under Article 39 of the Act.
Some items are prohibited outright depending on the exporting country.
Even a prohibited item can sometimes be imported for exhibition with permission from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, but the application has to be made in advance.
Check the official sources
Which items are inspected, how the procedure runs, and what the certificate must show.
The list of prohibited plants and countries, and the exceptional permission for exhibition purposes.
That every plant needs a certificate, that fresh cut flowers are covered, and that dried goods such as dried flowers are exempt.
That plants arriving without a certificate are destroyed.
The penalties for breaches such as skipping inspection.
Bringing it into Japan
You obtain the phytosanitary certificate from the government of the exporting country before you ship.
It cannot be arranged after arrival, so this has to start ahead of the transport schedule.
Rules differ by the combination of exporting country and item, so check the origin and species of your flowers with the Plant Protection Station in advance.
Taking it back out of Japan
Cut flowers are normally discarded once the display ends.
If you do take them back, export procedures from Japan apply.
How KUROZAKI helps
Before you ship, we check whether your flowers can be imported and what documents they need, based on origin and species.
We coordinate the phytosanitary certificate with the exporting side so that the paperwork is complete by move-in.
Where an item is prohibited, permission from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is needed, so we start early.
If you are not sure
If you want to bring cut flowers or foliage plants from overseas for a display, talk to us before you travel.