International Customs & Importer Responsibilities

When you use Japan Rabbit, you are the Importer of Record. This means that once the package leaves Japan, you are responsible for complying with all laws and regulations of the destination country.

While we handle the purchase and export from Japan, any duties, taxes, or documentation required by your local customs office must be paid for and handled by the recipient.

If your package is held, the local customs office or the carrier (DHL, FedEx) will typically contact you. They may request:

• Payment of import VAT or duties.

• Proof of Value (your Japan Rabbit invoice).

• Specific Certificates (Health certificates, Manufacturer’s Declarations, or Ingredients lists).

• Safety Data Sheets (SDS / MSDS).

Important Note on Documentation: As a proxy service, we purchase items from retail stores and secondary markets (like Amazon Japan, Mercari, or Rakuten). We do not have a direct relationship with manufacturers. Therefore:

• We cannot provide official Manufacturer’s Declarations or Heat-Treatment Certificates.

• We cannot provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS/MSDS) for products.

We provide the necessary export paperwork and commercial invoices required to ship your items out of Japan. However, we cannot intervene with local customs authorities in your country. If a package is held because it exceeds personal import limits, you may need to hire a private Customs Broker to assist you.

If you cannot provide the required documents to your local authorities, you generally have two choices:

1. Return to Sender: You can request the package be sent back to our warehouse. Warning: Return shipping fees are often very high and are the responsibility of the customer. Original shipping fees are non-refundable.

2. Abandonment/Disposal: You can authorize customs to destroy the package. Please note that storage fees or local handling fees may still apply and will be charged to your account.

Customs rules change frequently and vary wildly by country (especially for food, alcohol, and plants). Before placing an order for large quantities or restricted items, we strongly recommend:

• Checking your local government’s "Personal Import" limits.

• Verifying if a Manufacturer’s Declaration or SDS is required for the specific category of goods.

• Confirming the maximum weight/value allowed before a shipment is reclassified as "Commercial."