Importing from Japan into the UK

[af-ecomm]

Hello Everyone,
I am starting an ecommerce website selling organic green tea from Japan.
I am hitting a wall regarding the importing regulations and I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction.
I have already contacted suppliers in Japan and agreed on price, the product will come packaged in sealed bags and I will not need to repackage or reprocess it.
Does anyone know which certificates/authorizations I need for the customs/food agency/organic regulations?
I was thinking of possibly hiring a 3rd party to deal with these aspects, do you know what would the cost be and which kind of agent I should contact or if there any government/public body that helps small businesses with importing issues?

Thanks All,
Anto

 

[Dan@FreightFirst]

If you want to PM a typical delivery you would require i.e dimensions and weight, we can point you in the right direction

 

[InXpress SW]

hi Anto,

you can get basic guidelines from HMRC. once on the website, if you go on the import/export section you should be able to get more information. Also you can also give them a call.

Hope this helps.

 

[af-ecomm]

Thanks everyone for the kind replies. I have figured out that my main gap in knowledge is in the food and labelling part of the process. By that I mean, since this foodstuff is produced out of the EU, do I need to provide any certification of the producer, regarding the storage, do I need a specific facility or can I put it directly into a fulfillment house? And the last open question regards labelling and packaging.
I called defra and the food standards agency but they didn't really give a clear answer, I checked the documents online and I don't see any "operational" documents that tells me how to implement this parts.
Does anyone know where to look, who to call, which type of consultant/agent can help me with this matter?

Thank you all.

 

[japancool]

Here you go:
https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff/headings/0902?country=&day=28&month=6&year=2014

Once you have located the correct HS code, you can call HMRC to get details of any documentation or otherwise that you need to provide and any country specific regulations are on the website as well.

 

[japancool]

If you want to PM a typical delivery you would require i.e dimensions and weight, we can point you in the right direction

Hmm. Quote me for 85x45x45, 18kg, 3-5 pieces?

 

[af-ecomm]

Thanks Japancool, I see nothing specified for Japan so I assume, I can just pay the duty and it can enter free circulation. I just need to find out about the food standards/labelling issues now.

Cheers

 

[CH Freight Services Ltd]

Depending on where it comes from in Japan you may need a radiation certificate which will need to be lodged with a CED & a copy of the commercial documents with the local port health authority.

 

[af-ecomm]

Thanks, the radiation check has been lifted on tea on the 1st of April, from the hmrc website it seems green tea doesn't need a CED, what are the commercial documents you refer too?
Also the shipments will be sent by ems so they'll handle the clearance.

 

[japancool]

If your supplier is dispatching via EMS, make sure they include the HS code on the declaration.

 

[PowerForwarding]

You will need a CED and obviously correct documents from the supplier. We handle green tea shipments from China quite regularly so can assist if required.