No. Unpasteurized cheese is prohibited under Japan’s Food Sanitation Act unless imported under strict conditions. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) enforces these rules, with 2026 revisions tightening import controls for raw-milk cheeses aged under 60 days.
Key Regulations for Unpasteurized Cheese in Japan
- MHLW Import Permit Requirement: Unpasteurized cheese may only enter Japan if accompanied by an MHLW-issued import permit, certifying compliance with sanitary standards under the Food Sanitation Act (Act No. 233 of 1947).
- Age Restriction: Cheese produced from raw milk must be aged ≥60 days to mitigate Listeria monocytogenes risk, per MHLW’s Standards for Milk and Milk Products (2023 revision).
- Designated Ports of Entry: Imports are restricted to ports with MHLW-approved inspection facilities, including Tokyo’s Narita and Yokohama, Osaka’s Kansai, and Fukuoka’s Hakata, where officials conduct microbiological testing.
Foreign producers must submit health certificates from exporting countries’ authorities, aligned with Japan’s equivalence agreements. Non-compliant shipments face immediate detention or destruction. The 2026 amendments further empower MHLW to suspend permits for suppliers linked to contamination incidents. Domestic sales of unpasteurized cheese remain illegal outside licensed dairy processing zones.