Japan Food Labeling Act: What Must Appear on Every Package

In this guide

Overview of the Food Labeling Act
Mandatory label elements
Allergen declaration rules
Nutritional information format
Common labeling mistakes

Overview of the Food Labeling Act

Japan's Food Labeling Act (Shokuhin Hyoji Ho), enacted in 2015 and administered by the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA), consolidates labeling requirements that were previously spread across multiple laws. It applies to all food and beverages sold in Japan, including imported products.

The core principle is clear: all required label information must appear in Japanese. English-only labels are not accepted. This applies to the product name, ingredient list, allergen declarations, net weight, storage instructions, expiry date, and importer information.

Critical requirement

Every imported food product sold in Japan must have a Japanese language label applied before or at the point of customs clearance. Labels can be applied in Japan by your IOR — but they must be in place before the product reaches any consumer.

Mandatory label elements

The following information is mandatory on all packaged food products:

Element	Requirements
Product name	Common name in Japanese; generic name acceptable for some categories
Ingredient list	All ingredients in descending order by weight; additive names per MHLW approved list
Net weight / volume	In metric units (g, ml, kg, L)
Expiry / best-by date	Year-Month-Day format (YYYY.MM.DD or YYYY/MM/DD)
Storage instructions	Required for temperature-sensitive or perishable products
Importer name and address	Must be the Japan-based IOR's details
Country of origin	Required for all imported products
Allergen declarations	8 specified + 20 recommended allergens (see below)

Allergen declaration rules

Japan's allergen system distinguishes between specified (mandatory) and recommended allergens:

8 mandatory allergens (must be declared): wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk, peanut, shrimp, crab, and walnut (walnut added 2023).

20 recommended allergens (strongly encouraged): abalone, squid, salmon roe, orange, cashew nut, kiwifruit, beef, sesame, salmon, mackerel, soybean, chicken, banana, pork, matsutake mushroom, peach, yam, apple, gelatin, and almond.

Allergens must be declared both within the ingredient list (in parentheses after the ingredient name) and in a consolidated allergen summary statement. This dual-declaration system is unique to Japan and frequently missed by overseas brands.

Nutritional information format

Nutritional labeling is mandatory for most packaged foods. The standard format requires per-100g (or per-100ml) values plus per-serving values for: energy (kcal), protein, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium (expressed as salt equivalent).

Japan uses salt equivalent rather than sodium for labeling, calculated as: sodium (g) x 2.54. This is a common calculation error for brands converting from US or EU nutrition panels.

Salt equivalent formula

Salt equivalent (g) = Sodium content (g) x 2.54. Always use this conversion for Japanese nutrition panels — not the raw sodium figure.

Health and nutrient content claims (e.g., "low fat," "high fiber") are regulated under the Food with Nutrient Function Claims (FNFC) category and require specific threshold compliance before the claim can appear on packaging.

Common labeling mistakes

These are the labeling errors most frequently identified by MHLW during import inspection:

Missing Japanese translation: Any required element appearing only in English will fail inspection.
Incorrect additive naming: Additives must use MHLW's approved Japanese-language names, not translated names from other markets.
Incomplete allergen declaration: Missing the consolidated allergen summary or failing to mark allergens within the ingredient list.
Wrong date format: Best-by dates must follow the Japanese format. Month/Day/Year (US format) is not acceptable.
Missing importer address: The label must show the Japan-based importer's full address, not the overseas brand's address.
Prohibited claims: Disease treatment or prevention claims (even indirect ones) are prohibited on food products and trigger pharmaceutical classification review.