Exporting Japanese Green Tea: Regulations, Logistics & What Buyers Should Know

A Market at Record Highs

Japanese green tea exports have entered a period of unprecedented growth. In 2024, cumulative exports reached ¥36.38 billion — a 24% increase over the previous year. The trend accelerated further in 2025, with January-through-August figures already surpassing the full-year 2024 total of ¥36.38 billion in just eight months.

The composition of exports tells an important story. Powdered tea (primarily matcha) is driving growth at extraordinary rates — recording a 158.6% increase in December 2025 alone — while leaf tea (sencha, hojicha, gyokuro) showed a modest 5.3% decline. For international buyers, this signals that the global appetite for Japanese matcha specifically continues to outpace supply.

The United States remains the dominant market, with December 2025 exports reaching ¥4.08 billion — a 91.1% increase over the same month in the previous year. The EU follows at ¥1.76 billion, driven by strong organic demand. Taiwan has simplified trade by removing radiation testing requirements in late 2025, and Canada continues stable growth in confectionery-grade matcha.

Regulatory Requirements by Market

United States (FDA)

The U.S. presents the most complex regulatory framework for Japanese tea importers, centered on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP): U.S. importers bear legal responsibility for verifying that their Japanese suppliers meet American safety standards. This requires documented hazard analysis, supplier performance evaluations, and verification activities including third-party audit reviews, sampling tests, and food safety record inspections (HACCP plans, pest control logs, environmental monitoring). FDA inspections that find FSVP deficiencies can result in Warning Letters or import detention.

Facility Registration: Every facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds tea for U.S. export must maintain an 11-digit FDA food facility registration number, renewed during even-numbered years (next renewal: October–December 2026).

Prior Notice: Electronic declaration is required for every shipment — 8 hours before arrival for sea freight, 4 hours for air freight. Missing or inaccurate Prior Notice numbers result in immediate cargo detention.

Pesticide tolerances: The EPA sets maximum residue limits, enforced by FDA. Critically, if a pesticide has no established U.S. tolerance, any detection triggers a zero-tolerance violation — even at levels considered safe in Japan. Suppliers should provide 500+ substance screening results aligned with EPA-registered compounds.

European Union

The EU maintains the world's strictest pesticide standards, with several critical updates taking effect in 2026.

2026 MRL changes: Neonicotinoid restrictions are tightening, with clothianidin and thiamethoxam limits dropping to detection limits from March 7, 2026 — effectively banning tea containing these compounds. Additional pesticide MRL updates are scheduled for February 2026:

Organic certification: Under EU Regulation 2018/848, third-country equivalence agreements must transition to trade agreements. Japan's JAS organic certification is recognized, but EU-side certification from an authorized body is typically required in addition.

United Kingdom (Post-Brexit)

The UK now operates its own import framework separate from the EU.

• GB Certificate of Inspection (COI): Required for all organic Japanese tea imports, issued by an approved UK certification body
• Advance notification: 6 hours before arrival for air freight, 24 hours for other transport modes
• MRL divergence: UK pesticide limits are diverging from the EU — in some cases more lenient. Buyers must use market-specific testing panels depending on whether goods are destined for the UK or EU

Canada (CFIA)

• SFC License: Importers must hold a Safe Food for Canadians license with a documented Preventive Control Plan (PCP)
• Traceability: Records must identify "one step back" (Japanese supplier) and "one step forward" (domestic customer) for recall readiness
• Labeling: Bilingual English/French labeling is mandatory, including country of origin, ingredients, and importer details

Australia (DAFF)

• BICON compliance: All tea imports must be verified through Australia's Biosecurity Import Conditions system
• Dryness verification: Tea must be demonstrably dry and in a non-viable state
• Contaminant-free: Zero tolerance for live insects, soil, unauthorized seeds, or animal material — discovery triggers full cargo destruction or return
• Inspection: Bulk imports face full unpacking inspection; retail packages undergo random sampling

Essential Documentation Checklist

Incomplete paperwork is the most common cause of customs delays and the most preventable. Every shipment should include:

• Certificate of Origin: Identifies the country where tea was grown (not just packed). The U.S. applies "substantial transformation" rules — packaging location alone does not determine origin
• Phytosanitary Certificate: Issued by Japan's Plant Protection Station. Required for Australia and certain organic product shipments
• Certificate of Analysis (COA): Batch-specific testing covering microbiological safety (total plate count, E. coli, Salmonella, mold/yeast), heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury), and pesticide residue screening aligned with the target market
• Radiation testing certificate: Government mandates have been largely eliminated (including by Taiwan and French Polynesia in 2024–2025), but many buyers still require it as a voluntary standard

HS Code Classification

Correct product classification directly affects tariff rates and compliance:

Incorrect HS codes can trigger penalties for suspected tariff evasion, even unintentionally.

Shipping and Logistics

Packaging for Export

Matcha is highly sensitive to light, oxygen, moisture, and heat. Current export packaging standards emphasize multi-layer barrier materials:

• Material: Aluminum laminate film (PET/AL/PE) for maximum light and oxygen blocking
• Atmosphere: Nitrogen-flushed packaging (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) extends shelf life from months to 6–12 months
• Format: Retail products use stand-up pouches or screw-top tins; bulk shipments use 10–20kg aluminum bags in double-wall corrugated boxes

Air Freight vs. Sea Freight

For 2026, container shipping rates between Asia and the U.S. West Coast are projected to fluctuate between $2,200 and $9,500 depending on Suez Canal conditions and geopolitical developments. Buyers should budget with a 20–30% safety stock increase and calculate total landed cost including tariffs, port fees, fuel surcharges, and potential delay-related storage charges.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Front-loading demand: Anticipating 2026 tariff changes and supply disruptions, many buyers are accelerating orders — causing port congestion and rate spikes in early 2026. Plan procurement cycles 6–12 months ahead
• Pesticide MRL mismatches: A pesticide legal in Japan may exceed EU or US limits. Always request testing panels specific to your destination market, not just Japanese domestic standards
• Documentation gaps: Missing Prior Notice numbers, expired facility registrations, or incorrect HS codes are entirely preventable causes of costly delays. Build a pre-shipment documentation checklist and verify every field
• Quality degradation in transit: Sea freight without temperature-controlled containers can expose matcha to damaging heat. Specify nitrogen-flushed, aluminum-barrier packaging as a non-negotiable contract term

Simplify your Japanese tea imports. First Agri handles export documentation, regulatory compliance, and logistics for buyers in North America and Europe. Our team provides batch-level COAs, market-specific pesticide screening, and flexible shipping options from Kyoto to your warehouse. Get in touch to discuss your import requirements.