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Japan Import Duty Rate for Food Supplements & Vitamins

HS 2106 / 3004 · Food preparations and medicaments

Japan MFN Import Duty Rate

0–3.9%

on CIF value

Vitamins and mineral supplements vary 0–3.9%.

Rate varies — verify exact HS subheading at the official tariff schedule.

How duty is calculated

CIF value

Product cost + international freight + insurance

Import duty (0–3.9%)

Applied to CIF value. EU, UK, and most countries use CIF.

Consumption Tax (10%)

Applied to CIF value + duty. Collected at customs.

Use our Landed Cost Calculator to compute the full cost including freight, brokerage, and last-mile delivery.

Worked example: food supplements & vitamins worth US$10,000

A commercial shipment invoiced at US$10,000 with US$900 of international freight and insurance. Japan charges duty on the CIF value (goods + freight + insurance), so the duty base is US$10,900. Customs converts the amount to JPY at the official exchange rate on the day of import.

Charge	At 0%	At 3.9%
Import duty	$0	$425
Consumption Tax (10%)	$1,090	$1,133
Total paid at the border	$1,090	$1,558

Consumption Tax is usually recoverable for a registered business, so the cost that stays with you is the duty. The rate depends on the exact subheading, which is why the example shows both ends of the 0–3.9% range. Excise, anti-dumping duties and broker fees are not included.

Classifying food supplements & vitamins correctly

Food supplements are usually heading 2106 (food preparations not elsewhere specified); products presented as medicines with a therapeutic dose go to 3004.

Protein powders are 2106 unless they are pure whey (0404) or another single ingredient
Capsules of a single vitamin can be 2936 when not put up for retail sale
Presentation and dosage, not the label word 'supplement', decide 2106 vs 3004

Compliance. Food supplements need food-safety registration in most markets — FDA facility registration and prior notice in the US, notification to the national authority in EU member states — and claims rules apply.

Importing into Japan: what you need

Japan Customs, under the Ministry of Finance, clears goods through NACCS; rates are in the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan.

Registration. Commercial importers act through a licensed customs broker (tsūkan-gyōsha); overseas sellers need an importer of record in Japan.

Low-value shipments. Consignments with a taxable value of ¥10,000 or less are exempt from duty and consumption tax; the exemption is under review as part of Japan's response to low-value e-commerce.

Documents customs will ask for

Import declaration
Commercial invoice and packing list
Bill of lading or air waybill
Certificate of origin or origin declaration for EPAs (CPTPP, RCEP, EU–Japan EPA)
Food Sanitation Act notification for food and kitchenware; PSE marks for electrical appliances

Charges on top of duty

Consumption tax 10% (8% on food) on CIF value + duty
Excise on alcohol, tobacco and petroleum

Watch out. Most industrial goods enter Japan at 0%, but leather goods, footwear and some foods carry tariff-rate quotas with very high out-of-quota rates.

Frequently asked questions

What is the import duty rate for Food Supplements & Vitamins in Japan?

The MFN (Most Favoured Nation) import duty rate for Food Supplements & Vitamins (HS 2106 / 3004) in Japan is 0–3.9% on the CIF value. Vitamins and mineral supplements vary 0–3.9%.

Is Consumption Tax charged on Food Supplements & Vitamins imports to Japan?

Yes. Japan charges Consumption Tax at 10% on the CIF value plus any import duty. This applies to virtually all commercial imports.

Are there FTA rates available for Food Supplements & Vitamins in Japan?

Japan has free trade agreements with JEFTA (EU), CPTPP, US–Japan TTA, RCEP, Japan–ASEAN CEPA, Japan–UK CEPA. Check whether your origin country qualifies for a preferential rate on HS 2106 / 3004.

How is import duty calculated for Food Supplements & Vitamins entering Japan?

Duty is calculated on the CIF value of the goods. CIF value includes the product cost, international freight, and insurance. The MFN duty of 0–3.9% is applied to this value. Consumption Tax (10%) is then applied on the duty-paid value.