Japan

Cargo Restrictions

 The following articles are prohibited by law:

1. Heroin, cocaine, MDMA, opium, cannabis, stimulants, psychotropic substances, and other narcotic drugs (excluding those designated by Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare Ordinance)
2. Firearms (pistols, etc.), ammunition (bullets) thereof, and pistol parts
3. Explosives (dynamite, gunpowder, etc.)
4. Precursor materials for chemical weapons
5. Germs which are likely to be used for bioterrorism
6. Counterfeit, altered, or imitation coins, paper money, bank notes, or securities, and forged credit cards.
7. Books, drawings, carvings, and any other article which may harm public safety or morals (obscene or immoral materials, e.g., pornography)
8. Child pornography
9. Articles which infringe upon intellectual property rights

Weight Regulations

ISO cargo containers are subject to weight restrictions as below:

• 20-foot container: Maximum weight of 24 metric tons (52,910 pounds), including the container weight.
• 40-foot container: Maximum weight of 30.48 metric tons (67,196 pounds), including the container weight.

• The Japan-Middle East export trade prominently features the export of used auto parts and vehicles.
• ESL is fully dependent on moving these cargoes.
• Japan customs specifically require the following documents:
  • Deletion of car registration
  • Usual export documents such as:
    • Packing list
    • Invoice

VGM Procedure

VGM submission requires the following basic information as a minimum:

• Booking number
• Container number
• Verified Gross Mass
• Date, Name (as signatory) of the person who is duty authorized by the Shipper for VGM issuance as per regulations

VGM submission will be received via the container gate-in slip which is provided by Terminal/ECD when the empty container picked it up. VGM information for each individual container under one booking number is required prior to or at the time of Gate-In.

The cut off time of VGM submission

VGM is required prior to any container shipment. Cargo will not be loaded onto a vessel unless a certified VGM has been provided by Shipper.

• Current/existing CY cargo cut-off time at the Terminal

Or

• Prior to/during Terminal Gate-In

It is therefore important that the Shipper finalizes the VGM information at the time or prior to cargo leaving Shipper’s premises and that VGM information is provided to Carrier and/or Terminal in a timely manner.

For Terminals that require to have the VGM prior Gate In or latest at the time of Gate-In then the Shipper should ensure that VGM information has been supplied prior to arriving at the Terminal gate to avoid the risk of not being allowed to enter the Terminal. All costs associated with mitigating this problem are the shipper’s responsibility.

Transhipment at Shanghai

Using HASCO Feeder services provides extensive coverage of Japan ports such as Tokyo/Yokohama/Nagoya/Osaka/Kobe/Moji/Hakata. From these origin ports we have shuttle services to Shanghai with 2-3 days transit-time and with 6 sailings a week.