As of September 16, 2020, Japan allows imports of all varieties of U.S. in-shell walnuts to Japan. Back in 1986, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) granted market access to Hartley, Payne and Franquette varieties of U.S. in-shell walnuts. Since then, the United States had requested that Japan expand market access to all U.S. walnut varieties.
On September 16, 2020, Japan revised the Ordinance for the Enforcement of the Plant Protection Act with immediate effect. This revision allows exports of all varieties of U.S. in-shell walnuts to Japan.
Due to Japan’s phytosanitary concern about codling moth in the United States, U.S. in-shell walnut exports to Japan must be fumigated. Furthermore, a phytosanitary certificate issued by APHIS is required to import fresh and frozen in-shell walnuts to Japan. For detailed import requirements for in- shell walnut, please consult MAFF’s Standards and Regulations; for U.S. walnuts (available in Japanese only). — By Tomohiro Kurai, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
