Updated July 2026: This guide has been revised to reflect Italy’s current import rules — the lifting of all post-Fukushima radiation controls (in force since August 2023), Japan’s organic (JAS) equivalence that lets tea be sold as “biologico” but is set to expire on 31 December 2026, the 0% tariff on Japanese-origin tea under the EU–Japan EPA (versus the 3.2% MFN rate on retail packs), the standard 22% Italian IVA, and the new €3 charge on low-value parcels sent direct to consumers from 1 July 2026.

Italy is known as the oasis for tea lovers. Italy has been an espresso-loving country with rich tastes in coffee, but the time has changed now. From just having an afternoon tea, Italians have shifted to drinking a number of times per day. This love for tea is growing and Italians always need more to satisfy their palates. That is why it is time to give them something they’re absolutely going to love, and that is organic Japanese tea. Organic Japanese tea has the perfect balance of color, quality, taste, and favor that every Italian look for. But how can you import organic Japanese tea to Italy?

What is Japanese Tea?

Japanese tea has been quite famous because of its rich and exotic flavors. But, the main thing that makes it exceptional is its manufacturing process. The leaves of Japanese tea are steamed to preserve their natural flavors and colors. This steaming process prevents the leaves from oxidizing, and that is how we get our high-quality Japanese tea.

According to various studies, about 72.3% of people drink Japanese tea daily, while 89.6% of people drink Japanese tea once or twice a week. This makes Japanese green tea one of the most consumed beverages in the entire world. There are approximately 20 varieties of Japanese tea currently available. That’s why every cup of Japanese tea is a specialized one and extremely rich in taste.

The production of Japanese tea dates back to the 8^th century, but its mass exportation started in the middle of the 1900s. Tens of thousands of Japanese tea were exported to the United States and Europe. Wherever it went, Japanese tea received huge praise and positive response. So, it’s about time that Italy should start engraving this tea into their restaurants and cafes and leave everyone awestruck.

How can you import Organic Japanese tea to Italy?

If an Italian company wants to import organic Japanese tea to Italy, there are certain criteria that it must consider. As Italy is a part of the EU, it has to follow all the guidelines and regulations of the EU to import goods into the country. However, there are some events when EU law may be incomplete or absent. This is where the government of Italy steps in and fills in the gaps. The main purpose of this approach is that no matter which product you import into the country, it must be allowed to freely move into the European countries, especially Italy.

Ensuring Food Safety in Italy is the primary responsibility of the Italian Ministry of Health while the safety standards, promotion, and labeling regularities are analyzed by the Ministry for Productive Activities. To import organic Japanese tea to Italy, you need to get special import licenses from the Italian Ministry of Health. All the labeling requirements must be fulfilled as advised by the Italian MOH. Because the tea is sold as organic, one document matters most: every organic consignment must arrive with an electronic Certificate of Inspection (e-COI) issued and endorsed through TRACES-NT, the EU’s online system, or the goods are not released at the port of entry. Organic production is overseen by MASAF (the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests), with control bodies accredited by Accredia. Customs clearance itself is run by the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), and you cannot lodge an import declaration without an EORI number — in Italy that is “IT” followed by your 11-digit VAT number.

Role of the Exporter

According to the Italian MOH, there is a certain role that is played by the exporter. The exporter needs to provide the following details to the Italian MOH because only then you will be able to import organic Japanese tea to Italy.

• Total shipment weight
• Italian Port of Entry
• Expected date of arrival
• The proposed use for the product
• Authorization and waiver from the Veterinary/Health inspection authorities of the U.S.
• Name of the receiving agent in Italy along with his/her entire contact information

The role of the Italian Customs Authority

Once you’ve collected your import license and your exporter has provided all the information, you need to submit all of this to the Italian Customs Authority. You also need to submit all the other required documents such as the invoice, bills, details about the product, etc.

Customs or Import Duty Tax on Importing Organic Japanese Tea to Italy

In Italy, the customs or import duty tax is applied on the total sum of the product cost, insurance cost, and shipment cost. In the case of organic Japanese tea, the customs or import duty tax are:

One point is worth updating here. The EU’s third-country (MFN) tariff on green tea is not a flat zero: tea in retail packs of 3 kg (6.6 lb) or less falls under CN code 0902 10 00 and carries a 3.2% duty, while bulk green tea over 3 kg (CN 0902 20 00) is 0%. Tea of Japanese origin, however, clears at 0% under the EU–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, in force since 1 February 2019, as long as a REX statement on origin travels with the shipment. Italian IVA (VAT) is then charged on top at the standard 22% rate — leaf tea does not get the 10% reduced rate, which applies only to tea extracts and essences such as instant tea.

Company Registration Number in Italy

If you want to import organic Japanese tea to Italy, make sure your company is registered in the country. To register a company in Italy, you need to submit an application to the Italian Business Register which is a section of the Chamber of Commerce (Camera di Commercio). This chamber can be found in all the provinces of the country. Once you submit the application, your company will be given an Italian Company Registration Number within a few days.

It is highly important to register your company in Italy because only then you will be able to carry out economic activity in the country.

FAQs

What information is required to fulfill the labeling requirements of Italy?

Prepacked tea for Italian shoppers must meet EU Regulation 1169/2011 on food information to consumers, which Italy applies through Legislative Decree 231/2017. The mandatory particulars have to appear in Italian and cover the following:

• Product name
• List of ingredients
• Metric units for all measurements
• Date of expiry
• Storage conditions
• Country of origin
• Alcoholic content
• Instructions for the proposed use
• Lot Marking
• Treatments undergone

How can you calculate the import duty tax?

In order to calculate the import duty tax on organic Japanese Tea, you need to know its customs classification. Green tea sits under CN heading 0902 — code 0902 10 00 for retail packs of 3 kg (6.6 lb) or less, and 0902 20 00 for bulk over 3 kg.

Now, imagine you’re importing vast amounts of tea from Japan to Italy. The cost of tea comes out to be EUR15, 000 with EUR7 000 insurance costs.

Your shipment is worth more than EUR150, so it clears as a normal commercial import rather than a low-value parcel. Under the EU’s third-country (MFN) tariff the rate depends on pack size: green tea in retail packs of 3 kg (6.6 lb) or less is dutiable at 3.2%, while bulk green tea over 3 kg is 0%. Take the retail-pack case. Your tea costs EUR15,000 with EUR7,000 in insurance and freight, so the customs value is EUR22,000. At 3.2%, that is 0.032 x 22,000 = EUR704 in duty. In practice, tea of Japanese origin clears at 0% under the EU–Japan EPA when a REX statement on origin accompanies it, so a properly documented consignment pays no duty at all. IVA is then charged on the customs value at the standard 22%.

Can you register your Italian company online?

Yes, you can register your Italian company online. However, if you wish to register electronically, you must provide a valid certified email address (PEC). You will receive your Italian registration number within a week after submitting your application. You will also receive all kinds of notices and filings on the same email address that you will provide.

What is the cost of registering your company in Italy?

If you’re registering your company with a local trade register, you need to pay EUR520 to incorporate your company in Italy. However, if you don’t have an office, you will pay EUR100/month to incorporate your business in Italy.

Do I need radiation certificates to import Japanese tea to Italy?

No. The EU repealed its post-Fukushima special import conditions on Japanese food and feed through Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1453, which took effect on 3 August 2023. Japanese tea now needs no radiation certificate, no sampling, and no pre-export testing to enter Italy. Japan still runs its own domestic monitoring, but that puts no extra paperwork on you as the EU importer.

Can JAS-certified Japanese tea be sold as “organic” in Italy without re-certifying it?

Yes, for now. Japan is on the EU’s list of countries whose organic rules are recognised as equivalent under Article 48 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848, so JAS-organic tea can be marketed as “biologico” in Italy without a second EU inspection — provided it is certified by an EU-recognised Japanese control body and travels under a valid e-COI through TRACES-NT. One date to watch: this equivalence is set to expire on 31 December 2026. In December 2025 the Commission proposed extending it to 2036, and the Council backed that position in May 2026, but it was not yet adopted law as of July 2026. If you have consignments arriving on or after 1 January 2027, reconfirm the legal basis before they ship.

Is there a new charge on small parcels shipped straight from Japan?

Yes, but only for direct-to-consumer parcels. From 1 July 2026 the EU applies a temporary flat customs charge of €3 per item on distance-sold e-commerce consignments worth €150 or less that arrive from outside the EU, and it runs until 2028. It is aimed at small business-to-consumer shipments, so it can hit a single retail parcel posted from Japan to a customer in Italy. Ordinary bulk commercial imports cleared in the normal way are not affected.

Final Takeaways

Undoubtedly, Italy has been the hub of espresso lovers, but tea has also started to make its mark. Italians are always on a hunt for trying something new, and this newfound love for tea demands another variety in the collection. Organic Japanese tea is one of the finest teas that you can ever come across. So, if you want to give something memorable to the Italians, organic Japanese tea scores first. However, there are specific rules and regulations that you’ll need to follow in order to import organic Japanese tea to Italy.

Need Assistance on Japanese Tea Importation?

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
• View our Kagoshima tea products here