Asia & World

Japanese Food and Beverage Imports into Europe

Updated: 19 August 2026 Holdwise editorial team Japan Food Import

You can import Japanese food and drink into the EU through a Dutch company. Under the EU-Japan agreement (EPA), most tariffs on these goods were removed. You still need to arrange food safety, labelling and cold-chain logistics. Demand in Europe keeps rising, for example for sake, wagyu and matcha. At Holdwise, we keep this answer up to date and change it when the rules change.

Tariffs under the EPA

Under the EU-Japan agreement, tariffs on many food categories were removed or phased out. This includes sake, soy sauce, confectionery, tea and wagyu beef. Both sides recognise each other's protected names (geographical indications). To get the lower tariff, you need origin documentation. These are statements under the rules of the EPA. You arrange them once with the Japanese exporter and use them again for every shipment.

The compliance file

Importing food or drinks into the EU? See which EU registrations your products need in the Europe Ready Check.

The importing company needs a food business registration. It must also meet the EU food-safety rules for each category. Examples are additive lists, contaminant limits and novel-food checks for less common products. Labels must be in the language of each market where you sell the goods. See the full compliance guide. Animal products are checked at approved border posts by veterinary control. For alcohol, you need an excise registration. With duty suspension arrangements, your cash flow is better.

You can import into the EU through the Netherlands and pay zero VAT at the border. See fiscal representation for non-EU importers. There you read about the Article 23 licence, the EORI number and the monthly work involved.

The Dutch import entity

The BV has all the registrations. The Article 23 licence covers the import VAT (the licence). Schiphol and Rotterdam handle the cold chain. One entity sells across the EU: wholesale on reverse-charge, and direct-to-consumer through the OSS (the OSS system). The same setup applies to every import business here, including webshops and the wider Japan-Netherlands guide.

Free advice

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Part of Doing Business in the Netherlands, the complete 2026 guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is sake import complicated by alcohol rules? +

It takes some setup, but after that the steps are routine. You need an excise registration. You ship the sake under duty suspension until the point of sale. You label it for each market. The EPA removed the tariff.

Do matcha and specialty teas face extra checks? +

Sometimes. The category rules apply, such as limits for contaminants and additives. EU rules also require extra checks for some origins or product types. Check each product (SKU) for compliance before shipment.

When was this last checked? +

Reviewed on 19 August 2026. The EPA tariff preferences and the control rules are current.

Sources Belastingdienst · KVK · wetten.overheid.nl Last updated: 19 August 2026