Customs Clearance for Flowers & Plants to and from Japan
Aircargo.nl handles the complete customs clearance for Flowers & Plants to and from Japan. AEO-F certified, experienced with specific permits, certificates, and origin documents for this combination.
Shipments of Flowers & Plants concerning Japan have specific customs considerations. On one side are the product-specific rules for Flowers & Plants (HS codes, certificates, possibly DGR). On the other side: the trade regime between the EU and Japan (Derde land met vrijhandelsakkoord) determines which import duties and origin documents apply.
Below you will read the combination: what specifically applies to Flowers & Plants, plus what specifically applies to Japan, plus how Aircargo.nl handles this combination daily.
For Flowers & Plants from or to Japan, you can benefit from the free trade agreement between the EU and Japan. Origin document: REX. With a correct origin declaration, 0% or reduced import duties apply. Note: Flowers & Plants often have product-specific origin rules (Product Specific Rules). We verify in advance if your shipment qualifies.
Specific Rules for Flowers & Plants
Flowers and plants are phytosanitary sensitive. For every shipment from a third country, Dutch Customs plus the NVWA require a valid phytosanitary certificate. For CITES species (orchids, certain cycas varieties) a CITES permit is additionally required. Inspections are consistently more stringent than for ordinary goods due to strict visual inspection protocols.
HS Code Examples:
Cut flowers — chapter 06: 0603.11 roses, 0603.12 carnations, 0603.19 other fresh cut flowers. Live plants: 0602.90 other live plants. Bulbs and tubers: 0601.10. For export use 8-digit CN codes, for import 10-digit TARIC codes.
Specific Rules for Japan
EU-Japan EPA in effect since February 2019: 0% duties on most goods provided origin rules are met. No formal EUR.1 — origin declaration on invoice (statement on origin) under the REX system is sufficient. Japanese Customs is highly efficient and transparent. Additional Japanese certifications apply for specific goods (cosmetics, food, medical devices) such as PMDA and JFDA.
Typical Documents:
Commercial invoice with REX origin declaration (statement on origin), packing list, Air Waybill, and where applicable PMDA registration for pharmaceuticals, JFDA for food.
Import Duties and Fees for Flowers & Plants from Japan
Import duties on cut flowers from non-EU countries generally range from 5-12% depending on type and season. Under free trade agreements (Kenya under EBA, Israel, Morocco) duties are often 0%. On top of import duties there is 9% VAT for fresh flowers in the Netherlands.
Under which regime: Japan falls under the “Derde land met vrijhandelsakkoord”. Origin document for preferential tariff: REX. We calculate exactly what you owe in advance and prepare the correct origin document.
Our ACE license (Authorized Consignor) allows flower shipments to come directly from Schiphol to our facility in Aalsmeer — crucial due to the short shelf life. With our DPO license (Deferred Payment), we invoice import duties grouped instead of per shipment.
Key Figures for Flowers & Plants Japan
FAQ on Flowers & Plants Japan
How long does customs clearance take for Flowers & Plants from Japan?
With correct documentation, release usually follows within a few hours at Schiphol. For Japan shipments, we expect 2-4 hours at Schiphol; Japanese side 4-8 hours at Narita/Haneda/Kansai. Additional inspections (phytosanitary, veterinary, NVWA) may require extra time for Flowers & Plants — we notify you in advance to minimize waiting times.
What documents do I need for Flowers & Plants Japan?
For Flowers & Plants: see the product-specific certificates above. For Japan: see typical documents above. The combination means we gather both sets and coordinate them. You provide the commercial invoice, packing list, and any certificates — we validate and file the declaration.
Can I pay import duties for this flow on a grouped basis?
Yes. Under our DPO permit (Deferred Payment), you can pay import duties and VAT for Flowers & Plants from Japan on a grouped basis — monthly instead of per shipment.
Which origin document do I use for a preferential tariff?
REX. We prepare this document under our authorization as customs broker, provided the origin rules (including product-specific rules for Flowers & Plants) are met.
How does your service work in practice?
We provide complete handling: pre-lodgement, import declaration (DMS), any NVWA notifications for Flowers & Plants, and payment processing under DPO if desired. You get one point of contact for the entire process.
Start customs clearance of Flowers & Plants Japan?
Request a quote for customs clearance of Flowers & Plants from Japan. We respond within 4 hours with a fixed price.