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Selling kitchenware and food contact materials in Japan

In Japan, utensils, containers and packaging that touch food fall under the Food Sanitation Act. They must not harm health, must meet MHLW's standards, and synthetic resins must use substances on the positive list in force since 1 June 2020. Imports are notified at a quarantine station, and many kitchen items carry a quality label.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Main law
Food Sanitation Act (食品衛生法)
Synthetic resins
Positive list, from 1 June 2020
Transition ended
31 May 2025
Manufacturers
Manufacturing management standards
Import
Notification to an MHLW quarantine station
Quality label
Household Goods Quality Labelling Act (家庭用品品質表示法)

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Does the item touch food, and which materials is it made of? Read more
  2. 2Are the synthetic resins and their additives on the positive list? Read more
  3. 3Does the manufacturer follow the manufacturing management standards and pass on conformity information? Read more
  4. 4Is each import notified to a quarantine station? Read more
  5. 5Is it a plastic, metal or glass item designated for quality labelling? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Safety and standards

What the Food Sanitation Act asks of food contact items.

  • Utensils, containers and packaging are kept clean and sanitary (Article 15).
  • Items that contain or carry toxic or harmful substances that may harm health must not be sold, made or imported for sale (Article 16).
  • MHLW sets specifications and standards for utensils, containers and packaging and their materials; items that do not meet them must not be sold, made or imported (Article 18).
  • MHLW may prohibit the sale or import of specified items from a specified country or producer where needed to prevent harm (Article 17).

How we help: Upload a migration test report and Compliant Always reads it against the standards for the material, with the source beside each. Ask about this

Positive list and manufacturing

The list of substances allowed in synthetic resins.

  • Synthetic resin utensils, containers and packaging may use only substances listed by MHLW, within their limits (Article 18(3)).
  • The positive list took effect on 1 June 2020, under Public Notice No. 196 of 28 April 2020; the transitional measures ended on 31 May 2025.
  • Manufacturers of utensils, containers and packaging follow manufacturing management standards and keep records (Article 52).
  • Sellers, manufacturers and importers explain to the businesses they supply that the items conform to the positive list (Article 53).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each supplier's positive list statement with the product and lot, dated, and shows which statements are missing. Ask about this

Import and recalls

How food contact items come into Japan.

  • Each import of utensils, containers or packaging for sale is notified to an MHLW quarantine station (Article 27).
  • A business that recalls utensils or containers that breach the Act notifies the prefecture (Article 58).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the test reports and statements each shipment needs with the product, and shows what expires before the next one. Ask about this

Quality labelling

What kitchen items show under the Household Goods Quality Labelling Act.

  • Plastic tableware and kitchen utensils show the raw material resin, the heat-resistant temperature tested under JIS S 2029, the cold-resistant temperature where relevant, capacity and precautions.
  • Pots and pans of aluminium, enamelled cast iron, stainless steel or copper show the surface coating, dimensions, capacity and precautions.
  • Tempered and borosilicate glass tableware, baby feeding bottles, aluminium foil and synthetic rubber kitchen items are also designated.
  • For imported goods, a business in Japan, the importer, seller or labelling contractor, becomes the labeller.

How we help: Compliant Always sets the label beside the labelling matters for the item, and checks the stated temperatures against the test report. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ManufacturerThe standards, the positive list, manufacturing management standards and records.Formulations and test reports kept with each product.
ImporterThe import notification and items that meet the standards.Suppliers' reports read and dated before the goods ship.
Material supplierInformation showing its resins and additives conform to the positive list.Statements collected once and shown to each customer that asks.
LabellerThe quality label, and for imports a business in Japan.Labels checked against the item's labelling matters.

National law, prefectural enforcement

Product law in Japan is national. Ministries and the Consumer Affairs Agency set the standards; prefectural governors and cities with public health centres license food businesses, receive food recall notifications and carry out inspections.

Imports are checked at the border: food and food contact articles at MHLW quarantine stations, and liquor licences are granted by the tax office for each place of sale.

Questions businesses ask

Which law covers food contact materials in Japan?
The Food Sanitation Act. It covers utensils, containers and packaging, with standards set by MHLW and, for synthetic resins, a positive list of allowed substances.
What is Japan's positive list for food contact plastics?
A list of substances allowed in synthetic resin utensils, containers and packaging, within limits. It took effect on 1 June 2020, and the transitional measures ended on 31 May 2025.
Do suppliers have to provide positive list information?
Yes. Sellers, manufacturers and importers explain to the businesses they supply that their items conform to the positive list (Article 53).
Do kitchenware manufacturers need GMP in Japan?
Manufacturers of utensils, containers and packaging follow manufacturing management standards set under Article 52 and keep records.
Does imported kitchenware need a notification?
Yes. Each import of utensils, containers or packaging for sale is notified to an MHLW quarantine station (Article 27).
Can Japan ban kitchenware from a particular country?
MHLW may prohibit the sale or import of specified items from a specified country or producer where needed to prevent harm (Article 17).
What must a plastic kitchen item label show?
The raw material resin, the heat-resistant temperature tested under JIS S 2029, the cold-resistant temperature where relevant, capacity and precautions.
Are pots and pans labelled in Japan?
Yes. Pots and pans of aluminium, enamelled cast iron, stainless steel or copper show the surface coating, dimensions, capacity and precautions.
Are baby feeding bottles covered?
Baby feeding bottles are among the goods designated under the Household Goods Quality Labelling Act, so they carry the quality labelling it requires.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Japan?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, including the Japanese-language sources. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Japan and what your paperwork needs to show.

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No card, no account, and no call to book. Tell us what you make and where you sell it, and we will come back to you.

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