Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) predicts that the epidemic of the new coronavirus will cause delays and other impacts on imports and exports. In response to this delay, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry issued a policy to extend the period of import and export certificates on February 14, 2020.
1. Import-related matters
(1) When the import approval certificate is about to be obtained ( Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law)
If there are delays or other disruptions to the target imported products due to the novel coronavirus epidemic, the importer’s import approval certificate is about to arrive period, the importer is allowed to make a request to extend the validity period of the certificate. Please make such a request before the certificate’s validity period expires.
Note:
a. When making such a request, the importer is usually required to submit official documents , to demonstrate the need to extend the certificate. But until March 31, 2020, if the importer has difficulty obtaining such documents, the importer is allowed to submit alternative documents* (i.e. “a written statement in which the importer himself explains [i] the specific reasons and background whether the certificate needs to be extended” ; “Procedures for Deadlines and Other Purposes” document (Import Notice No. 49 of May 15, 1998).
It should be noted that expired import approval certificates are no longer valid , requiring importers with such expired certificates to submit a request for the reissue of such certificates. In particular, please note that the Japanese government cannot extend the validity period of certificates, etc. issued by overseas governments under certain treaties or agreements (for example, under the “Endangered Wild Animals” Export license issued by the Convention on International Trade in Plant Species and the Kimberley Process Certificate, etc.). (Issued according to the international rough diamond certification system).
(2) In In the case of imminent expiration of the tariff quota certificate (leather and leather shoes) (Law on Temporary Tariff Measures and other laws)
If targeted imports occur due to the epidemic of the new coronavirus If the importer’s tariff quota certificate is set to expire due to delays or other impacts on the product, the importer is allowed to make a request to extend the validity period of the certificate, which shall not exceed 30 days from the expiration date of the certificate. Please apply before the validity period of the certificate expires (until 2020 May 31, 2018) to make such a request.
Note:
a. Tariff Quota Certificate Once expired, it will no longer be valid and its validity period cannot be extended.
b. When making such a request, the importer is usually required to submit “certification that the tariff quota Documents that would make it difficult to make an import declaration for goods subject to tariff quotas within the validity period of the certificate (for example, a communication document from the exporter notifying the delay) of goods arriving in a tariff quota, which clearly states the expected arrival date in Japan.” However, , if it is difficult for the importer to obtain such documents, the importer is allowed to submit alternative documents until March 31, 2020 (i.e. “written statement of reasons, the importer’s own explanation [i] detailed reasons for the necessity and background of the certificate extension,” and [ii] the reasons for the difficulty in obtaining ‘documents necessary to determine certificate extension’.”)
c. For specific information, please refer to the document “Tariff Rate Quotas for Fiscal Year 2019” Methods and other information for requesting and processing a tariff quota certificate.
2. Export-related matters
(1) Expiration of export license certificate or export When approving certificates (Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act)
If the exporter’s export license or export approval certificate is delayed in the target export due to the novel coronavirus epidemic If the certificate is set to expire due to interruption or other interruption, the exporter is allowed to make a request to extend the validity period of the certificate. Please make such a request before the certificate’s validity period expires.
Note:
a. For detailed steps, please refer to “Operation of Export Trade Control Order” Document (Export Warning No. 62 of November 6, 1987).
b. Expired export licenses and export approval certificates are no longer valid, and exporters holding such expired certificates are required to submit a request for the reissue of such certificates.
(2) If the conditions stated in the export license (“Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law”) are not met before the deadline
Permissive conditions shown in the export license certificate for goods shipped to China (for example, a report on the installation of machine tools), if the deadline for meeting the conditions is before March 31, 2020, then Government Japan Exporters will automatically extend the deadline to March 31, 2020,** for all exporters.
Such exporters are not required to submit a request to change their registration data before the extension period. However, if they are able to enforce the conditions before March 31, 2020, they must meet them as soon as possible.
(3) When certificates issued by the Japanese government and other organizations under certain treaties or agreements expire (Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law and other laws)
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About the export license issued under CITES, according to the InternationalThe Japanese government cannot extend the validity period of the Kimberley Process certificate issued by the rough diamond certification system and the specific origin certificate issued by the Japan Federation of Industry and Commerce. The validity period of these certificates is limited by the limitations of such treaties. Exporters whose certificates have expired need to submit a request for the reissue of such certificates.
**Note: The specific dates for special treatment mentioned in this release may be further extended based on relevant circumstances.
