Animal Quarantine Service Uncovers Foreign National Attempting to Bring Livestock Products into Japan Illegally

TOKYO, May 15, 2024 /Kyodo JBN/ —

Last year, the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) uncovered a foreign national who illegally brought meat such as sausages containing pork, which are prohibited from being imported to Japan from overseas, into Tokyo International Airport, and recently there was a case where the foreign national was arrested by police for violating the Act on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases in Livestock.

Logo:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105725/202405090540/_prw_PI4fl_1R0LZ99G.jpg

Photos
A quarantine detector dog working at the airport:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105725/202405090540/_prw_PI1fl_7f3BSICI.jpg

Prohibited goods brought in illegally:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105725/202405090540/_prw_PI2fl_3J47r7uI.jpg

Bringing meat products into Japan is strictly prohibited, even if such products are sold in stores:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105725/202405090540/_prw_PI3fl_NMTJ0xhm.jpg

In order to prevent the entry of infectious livestock diseases, it is prohibited by Japanese law to bring into Japan meat such as pork, chicken and beef as well as meat products such as sausages and hams from many countries and regions, including Asia, regardless of the quantity or mode of transportation.

Anyone who attempts to bring meat products into Japan illegally will be subject to “imprisonment for not more than 3 years or a fine of up to 3 million yen (up to 50 million yen for businesses).”

Although outbreaks of African swine fever, a disease with a high fatality rate that infects pigs and boars, are spreading in other Asian countries, no cases of this disease have been reported in Japan. In an effort to prevent outbreaks of this disease in Japan, AQS inspects baggage and international mail coming in from overseas, using quarantine detector dogs.

AQS will continue to respond strictly to violations of the law and thoroughly implement border control measures. When traveling or sending mail to Japan, please do not bring meat products that are prohibited from being imported into the country.

Animal Quarantine Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan: http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/languages/info.html

*Please check the English version and simplified Chinese version at the links below.

English version: http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/product/import.html

Simplified Chinese version: http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/languages/bring_meat_cn.html