Declaring food at customs
 

Hi there

I have a 2 day stopover in Tokyo on my way to visit family in India from the US. I will plan to carry a few food items such as almonds, pistachios, chocolates and saffron when I stopover. These will be commercially packed and small quantities.

The visit Japan questionnaire asks me if I have fruits, vegetables, live plants, seeds, animals, etc. I assume I should tick "No"? But i am not sure.

Do I need to declare these to a customs official in Narita despite having a QR code? If so, will it delay my customs inspection?

Thanks!

Plant control is distinct from customs. It has a separate desk / section at the airport - It might be signposted as "Plant Quarantine" or "Plant Protection Station," I think it's close to the health control desks (for human health) before immigration, but it might be in the customs hall....

With regard to the rules for items that you might bring from India:

General guidance (page with link to PDF pamphlet)
https://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/guidanc...let/index.html

Detailed list for items from India (Japanese)
https://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/search/ikuni/in.html

Almonds & Pistachios - Not listed. I believe that means that they are exempt from control.
Chocolates - Processed and packaged food product. Should be exempt from control.
Saffron - Dried spices. MAFF states "Please contact the Plant Protection Station"

If you decide to bring items and declare them to the plant quarantine station at NRT, I recommend that you purchase items that are processed (e.g. roasted nuts rather than raw) and well packaged. Items that are packaged in shrink-wrapped boxes will attract less scrutiny than newspaper cones that contain the same items.

EDIT - I see that you're bringing items from the US, not India. In that case, you need to refer to this list:
https://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/search/ikuni/us.html

Nuts (excluding shelled Brazil nuts and shelled walnuts) Inspection required upon entry
Chocolates - Processed and packaged food product. Should be exempt from control.
Saffron - Dried spices. Not listed. Possibly exempt from control if the country of origin is the US.

[Kind of surprised about taking saffron from the US to India. I would not have imagined that.]

Nuts (excluding shelled Brazil nuts and shelled walnuts) Inspection required upon entry
Chocolates - Processed and packaged food product. Should be exempt from control.
Saffron - Dried spices. Not listed. Possibly exempt from control if the country of origin is the US.

[Kind of surprised about taking saffron from the US to India. I would not have imagined that.][/QUOTE]

Thank you so much - this is very helpful. I suspect the nuts will be a problem based on what I read. I might as well get them from Japan instead of the US. Are almonds and pistachios available at 7-11s in Tokyo? Or would I need to get them at a local supermarket?
My family tells me the Spanish saffron sold in the US is a much higher quality than those available in India :)

Actually, I don't think that it will be a problem to import pistachios and almonds. The site linked above explains the meaning of "Inspection required upon entry" - It states If you pass the inspection at the plant quarantine counter at the airport/port, you can bring it in.
I feel pretty sure that you will not have a problem if you bring roasted almonds and pistachios from the US that are from a reputable brand and in sealed packs.

Don't buy beer snacks at a convenience store ... You will find tiny packs for inflated prices. You pay for convenience, like everyone else who's impulse buying. Prices will be better at a supermarket. Prices in Ueno Ameyokocho will be even cheaper.... but packaged less attractively.
To be honest, though, I imagine that the best price will be in the US.

If you were flying through London, I would suggest an Iranian store in Finchley. Incredible variety and quality. I guess you can probably find the same in Los Angeles... Might be worth trying.
Ah. Many years ago, my mother attended my cousin's wedding in India. She asked the bride's father where to buy spices, and he looked surprised - "You should buy them at Southall market. That's where you'll find the best quality." Well, Southall was just down the road from me at the time, but she still felt compelled to bring me some "real" Indian spices from India.

Thanks so much!! This has been very helpful!

As someone who's brought nuts into Japan from the US, the "inspection" really isn't an issue at all. Right after baggage claim, go to the "Plant Inspection" counter, show them your bags of nuts, they'll ask you to confirm you brought them from the US, and then they'll tape on a piece of paper with an "inspected" stamp. Then, go through Customs.

If you're really worried, then you can go to a supermarket in Tokyo upon arrival, or if you have a membership, Costco.