How to Import Japanese Tea with Halal Certification? (2026 Updated)

Updated July 2026: This guide has been revised to reflect the current halal certification landscape for Japan-sourced tea. It now covers Indonesia’s mandatory halal rule for imported food and drink from 17 October 2026 under the agency BPJPH, the requirement that a foreign certifier hold a mutual-recognition agreement with BPJPH and register the product on the Sihalal portal, Malaysia’s MS 1500:2019 standard under JAKIM, the UAE’s MOIAT Halal National Mark under the Gulf standard GSO 2055-1, and the near-complete removal of Fukushima radiation controls on Japanese tea (lifted by the EU in August 2023 and by Taiwan in September 2024).

The word “Halal” is being heard more in Japan and other parts of the world as more Muslims are moving to different countries.

The population is growing, and the young generation is looking for “halal” food options on the shelves leading to increased demand. Importers seek Halal certification to ease import to cater to customers who practice the Halal way of life. While it was previously only attached to the Muslim population, now it is seen as a lifestyle, and people are thinking of it beyond a “Muslim thing” only. However, Muslim countries and populations take care of the products being Halal more than others, and some only import products that have the Halal certification.

What is Halal?

Halal means “permissible by Islamic law” and is the way of living followed by Muslims globally. It includes eliminating some components such as pig, animal-derived gelatin, alcohol, and others that are not allowed in Halal. In the past, the term “Halal” was only related to food. But, now it is seen in a broad dimension according to changing times. You will see Muslims worldwide opting for Halal cosmetics and medicines, ensuring no animal-derived products are present in them (except for those allowed).

Halal is not only accreditation of food being fit for consumption by Muslims; it symbolizes environment-friendliness and quality. Being practiced by Muslims for centuries, the Halal food concept meets modern environmental requirements and ensures all nutrients that a human body requires.

Why Do You Need Halal Certification?

It is worth mentioning that Muslims make up 1.7 billion of the world’s total population. According to OIC, Muslims spent above $1173 million on food globally in 2020. As it is expected that the Muslim population will grow up to 2.2 billion by 2030, the potential number of food consumers will also rise. Besides locally produced vegetables, meat, and other food items, Muslim countries import 47.8% of vegetables and 18.9% of meat products annually. Organic food items like organic tea are also in the limelight nowadays, as most Muslim countries are among the top tea drinkers and importers.

According to Statista, Pakistan imported tea worth $589.76 million, while tea import to Egypt was around $197.22 million in 2020. If you are looking to target the highest tea importers like Pakistan, the USA, the UK, and others, the Muslim population makes up a considerable fraction. Having Halal certification makes it easy to import products to Muslim countries that prefer bringing in products that are already certified Halal to be sure of what they are offering to the masses.

Does Japan offer Halal Certified Green Tea?

It might surprise you, but yes, you can find Halal Japanese brands in the market that offer Halal Green Tea. It is primarily because of the need for Halal certification for Muslims in the country. While choosing a vendor for product import, it is better to get one with Halal certification in Japan to avoid any issues in the country of import.

How to import Japanese Tea with Halal Certification

To import Japanese Tea with Halal Certification, you will need to get a Halal certification that allows you to add a “Halal” label to the organic tea import. Different organizations work in particular regions to provide certification.

What is Halal Certification?

The Halal Certification is an internationally acclaimed mark that all Muslims trust and is issued by a third party that evaluates the manufacturing facility, raw material, spices, additives, services, and all other Halal requirements before issuing a certificate fit for import. In current times, 120 organizations work as Halal certification bodies around the world. However, you must ensure that the Halal certification you get is compatible with the country’s import rules.

How to Get Halal Certification in Japan for Organic Tea?

Although you are importing Japanese tea, you may be interested to learn how farms get Halal Certification in Japan.

Farms connect to various organizations like JAKIM Halal certification, HJC Muslim friendly certification, etc. JAKIM, Malaysia’s federal halal authority, recognises Japanese certification bodies to Halal-certify products made in Japan. In practice the export-grade certifier is the Japan Halal Association (JHA), which by 2024 also held recognition from Indonesia’s BPJPH and the UAE’s MOIAT, so one body can cover Malaysia, Indonesia and the Gulf. It is one of the most strict certification organizations in the world and is accepted in around 56 Muslim countries. JAKIM logo on product labels makes it trustable as Halal in all these Muslim countries. It is suitable for both manufacturing and import businesses.

Halal Certification and Application Procedure for Organic Tea Import

While you are not applying for a warehouse or manufacturing area Halal certification, you need to submit a quality inspection record and details of the work procedure. When applying for a logistics Halal certificate, you must also consider:

• You must have a certified copy for the product manufacturer.
• You cannot handle or transport products other than labeled Halal if you opt for JAKIM Halal certification.
• If you also transport products that are not Halal, you must use specific vehicles for Halal products.

Halal Certification and Application Procedure for Manufacturing Facility

If you are getting the Halal certification for a manufacturing facility for the convenience of import, the factory, once certified Halal, cannot produce other products. Other factors you must keep in mind include:

• You have to provide a sample inspection certificate regarding the raw material and the product.
• The application must have a schedule showcasing the manufacturing procedure of the product along with a quality inspection record.

JAKIM Halal Certification Costs

If you farm in Japan, a JAKIM-recognised Halal Certification for organic tea import typically runs roughly JPY 1,000,000 to 2,000,000, though the real figure depends on the certifier, the number of audit days, and the complexity of the facility. The breakdown below is an approximate in-house estimate rather than an official JAKIM tariff, and it includes application, inspection, and renewal fees.

Process	Cost
Application Fee for Global JAKIM Certification	300,000 JPY / location or item
JAKIM Audit (Travel, transport, and accommodation of two JAKIM auditors and one ENERTECH personnel for 3 days)	1,000,000 JPY
JM Specimen inspection including DNA testing	50,000 JPY/ item
Application support and translation assistance	500,000JPY/ time
Assistance for application update	50,000 JPY/ certificate
Certification renewal cost	300,000 JPY

Benefits of Halal Certification

Getting the Halal Certification for organic tea not only makes it easy to import to other countries but provides numerous other benefits that accompany it.

• Having Halal certification for organic tea and other food items ensures that it is free from many such elements that Muslims do not find hygienic.
• Being Halal certified means you can reach around 2 billion more potential customers if you target countries with a significant Muslim population.
• You can import products to countries with strict Halal laws requiring Halal certification to import Organic Tea.

FAQs

Can only Muslims consume Halal products?

While Muslims do not eat anything other than Halal, it is not for Muslims only. Anyone can enjoy Halal as it is a healthy lifestyle that provides all important nutrients to your body and complies with the modern environment-friendly factors.

What other Halal certifications can you get in Japan?

• Industrial
• Restaurant
• Warehouse
• Product endorsement
• Abattoir scheme

Does Halal Certification Require Organic Certificate as well?

As Halal is a term used for all the ingredients that are permissible for Muslims, it does not depend on any other certification. If you are willing to import organic tea to Muslim countries and places with a Muslim population, it is better to get Halal certification along with Organic. Organic certification is not equal to Halal certification because it only ensures that the product is entirely free from chemicals. In contrast, Halal certification ensures that no intoxicating element is present in the organic tea. You may have Halal certification and not organic as they are not codependent.

Which countries import Halal-certified products?

Some countries allow products that mention “the product does not contain pork and alcohol,” whereas others only sell products with a creditable Halal certification. The countries that need you to have Halal accreditation include Pakistan and Brunei, along with some of the strictest Halal certification regions like Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia, and Bahrain.

Do Canada and the USA import Halal-certified products?

In various states of the USA, it is an offense to label food Halal that has not been prepared in a Halal-certified facility or contains any non-Halal ingredients. Canada also requires all the details of the certification body, such as their name and the person who certified the product Halal for import.

Is Halal certification now mandatory to sell Japanese tea in Indonesia?

Indonesia is phasing in a mandatory Halal rule under Law No. 33/2014 and Government Regulation No. 42/2024, overseen by the agency BPJPH within the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Domestic food and drink came under the obligation on 18 October 2024. For imported food and beverages, the category that covers Japanese tea, the deadline was extended to 17 October 2026, with enforcement from 18 October 2026. From that point, tea sold in Indonesia as an ordinary food product needs to be Halal-certified and registered.

Will a Japanese Halal certificate be accepted in Indonesia automatically?

No. A foreign certificate only counts in Indonesia if the certifier holds a mutual-recognition agreement with BPJPH, and the product then has to be registered on BPJPH’s Sihalal portal to receive a registration number. Recognition by Malaysia’s JAKIM or by the Gulf standards body does not carry over on its own. The Japan Halal Association secured BPJPH recognition in 2024, so confirm that your certifier holds a live BPJPH agreement before you ship.

Which standard and certifier does Malaysia require?

Malaysia’s federal authority is JAKIM, and the standard in force is MS 1500:2019, the third revision. It covers ingredient traceability, cross-contamination controls on shared production lines, good manufacturing and hygiene practice, cleaning, and supplier certificates. Tea sold as Halal in Malaysia has to be certified by a JAKIM-recognised foreign body, such as the Japan Halal Association. An unrecognised Japanese logo is not accepted.

How does Halal certification work for the UAE and the Gulf?

In the UAE the scheme is run by MOIAT, which issues the UAE Halal National Mark, with laboratories and certifiers accredited through EIAC and the Gulf standard GSO 2055-1. The certifier has to be registered with MOIAT. The Japan Halal Association has been MOIAT-registered since 2017 and recognised by the Gulf accreditation body since 2016, so tea it certifies can carry the mark across the UAE and the wider Gulf market.

Do you still need a radiation certificate to export Japanese tea?

For most markets, no. The radiation import controls introduced after the Fukushima accident have largely been withdrawn. The EU lifted its remaining restrictions in August 2023, and Taiwan dropped the radiation-report requirement for Shizuoka tea in September 2024, though a certificate of origin is still needed there. By late 2024 Japan reported that roughly 90 percent of markets had removed their measures. A handful, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea, kept some controls in place, so check the destination’s current position.

Can JAS-certified organic tea be sold as “organic” abroad?

Often yes, and this sits separately from Halal. Under the US–Japan organic equivalence arrangement, JAS organic tea can be labelled and sold as organic in the United States without USDA re-certification, as long as the arrangement’s conditions are met, and a US shipment needs an NOP import certificate. The EU has recognised Organic JAS as equivalent since 2015, but it is moving older equivalence arrangements onto formal terms under Regulation (EU) 2018/848, so confirm the current EU import-certificate paperwork when you ship.

Key Takeaway

If you are willing to import organic tea from Japan, the provider or manufacturer must have a Halal certification for you to import to Muslim countries and regions with Muslim populations. Halal Certification for Organic tea allows the importers to reach a broader customer base as Muslims make up around 1.7 billion of the total world population. You must follow strict laws and regulations while getting the certification, including importing organic tea products under Halal laws. JAKIM and a few other bodies provide Halal certification in Japan according to globally accredited standards.

Need Assistance on Japanese Tea Importation?

You may want to collaborate with shippers that handle importation from your specified country to make the process smoother. Usually, these shippers would send you shipping computations or links for shipping calculator to have estimated as to the total amount of fees and customs duty you have to pay for the importation depending on the bulk or quantity of the Japanese tea to be imported. You may also include other items for importation alongside your imported Japanese tea, and it will all be considered as one shipment.

This shipping and importation of Japanese tea in your country have been a long-standing service that we offer. Therefore, if you are interested in Japanese Tea importation either as a business or you simply want to have a taste of quality, authentic Japanese tea, you may contact us through this website, and we are more than happy to assist you.

Click here to contact Green Tea Merchant.

• View our Shizuoka tea products here (All Products are Halal Certified)
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