Import conditions · United States
Importing Japanese Wagyu into the United States.
Japanese beef is eligible for the United States under federal meat-inspection rules, with facility approval on two layers and re-inspection on arrival. These are the conditions we work to, confirmed per shipment.
- Eligibility
- Japanese beef — boneless and bone-in, raw (non-heat-treated) — is permitted into the US under USDA FSIS and APHIS rules, with SRM removed.
- Documents
- Japan's MHLW meat sanitary certificate and AQS export quarantine certificate, plus standard import documents. FSIS re-inspects on arrival before CBP entry.
- Facility
- Two layers: Japan holds FSIS country equivalence, and the specific slaughter/processing establishment must appear on the FSIS list of eligible foreign establishments.
- Tariff
- US beef imports run under a tariff-rate quota. Japanese beef shares an "other-countries" quota: an in-quota duty applies until the shared quota fills — which can happen early in the year — after which a higher over-quota duty applies. Plan around quota timing; we confirm the current position per shipment.
- Chilled / frozen
- Both eligible. Cold-chain handling and temperature documentation required end to end.
- Clearance
- FSIS re-inspection then CBP entry. Typically a few days to about a week when documents are in order; longer if sampled or if paperwork is incomplete.
About these conditions
This is general guidance, not a guarantee. Import eligibility, documents, tariff treatment and clearance times change — we confirm the current requirements for your market on each shipment, and source to order. Nothing here implies stock held in your market.
Sourcing Japanese Wagyu for the United States?
Tell us the grade, cuts, format and volume you are working to — our Japan-side team replies with the current import conditions for your market and what is workable.