What you can't ship from Japan to Finland
16 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 4 item types that cannot be sent to Finland and 12 that can be sent only under conditions. Separately, Japan Post applies 278 carrier-wide rules to every destination, covering dangerous goods and items banned from international mail — perfume, aerosols and lithium batteries among them. Rules last verified against Japan Post on October 1, 2026.
- Prohibited
- 4
- Conditional
- 12
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Finland. They do not repeat the items Japan Post refuses to every country — those are on one shared page, linked below. A rule marked conditional allows the item only when the stated conditions hold; whether your product qualifies is what the ShipMate GO app works out before you book.
Plants & animals
4 conditional
- Conditional
Fish and Crustaceans
Import of all types of fish, fish eggs for aquaculture, and live crustaceans into Finland is permitted only with authorization from the Medical Bureau of the destination country's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This requirement applies to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among fish and crustaceans and to protect these resources.
Conditions and documents
- All types of fish, fish eggs for aquaculture, and live crustaceans → Permitted only with authorization from the Medical Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the destination country
Documents: Authorization from the Medical Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 03
- Conditional
Fur (animal pelts)
Dried fur/pelts (excluding sheep fur) are conditionally permitted, provided they are hermetically sealed and packaged. Sheep fur is not covered by this exception.
Conditions and documents
- Dried fur (excluding sheep fur), hermetically sealed and packaged → permitted
- Sheep fur → not covered by the dried/sealed exception
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 43
- Conditional
Mammals, Birds (live), Raw Meat, Milk, Milk Fat, and Bird Eggs
Live mammals, live birds, their raw meat, milk, milk fat, and bird eggs are conditionally permitted for shipment to Finland, but only when authorization has been obtained from the Medical Affairs Bureau of the destination country's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Shipments without such authorization are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the Medical Affairs Bureau of the destination country's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Medical Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 02
- Conditional
Plants
A wide range of plants destined for Finland — including plants for cultivation, bulbs, seeds for sowing, cut flowers, cut branches, fruits (excluding pineapple, coconut, durian, banana, and date palm), vegetables, timber, and bark — require a phytosanitary certificate to be attached. Importation is not permitted without the certificate.
Conditions and documents
- Phytosanitary certificate is attached → Import permitted
- No phytosanitary certificate → Import not permitted
Documents: Phytosanitary certificate (植物検疫証明書)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Chemicals
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
White Phosphorus Matches
White phosphorus matches are prohibited from shipment to Finland via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This prohibition applies specifically to matches made with white (yellow) phosphorus.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Conditional
Toxic substances (poisons)
Import of Class 1 toxic substances (first-category poisons) into Finland is permitted only when addressed to specific authorized recipients, including pharmacists, licensed industrial chemical manufacturers or pharmaceutical sellers, holders of permits to sell or manufacture Class 1 poisons, persons certified by the Finnish Ministry of Commerce and Industry as requiring such substances for industrial or artisanal production, and heads of university or advanced school laboratories or research institutes where the poison is needed for research. Import of Class 2 toxic substances is permitted under the general regulations governing the importation of goods.
Conditions and documents
- Class 1 poison addressed to a pharmacist → permitted
- Class 1 poison addressed to a person with the right to manufacture industrial chemicals or sell pharmaceuticals under special regulations → permitted
- Class 1 poison addressed to a person granted a permit to sell Class 1 poisons → permitted
- Class 1 poison addressed to a person granted a permit to manufacture poisons (permit applies to Class 1 poisons only) → permitted
- Class 1 poison addressed to a person certified by the Finnish Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Ministere du commerce et de l'industrie) as requiring the poison for industrial or artisanal production, and only for the specific poison listed in the certificate → permitted
- Class 1 poison addressed to the head of a university laboratory, advanced school, technical/research/supervisory laboratory, or research testing laboratory, where the poison is required for the research of that laboratory → permitted
- Class 2 poison imported under the general regulations governing importation of goods → permitted
Documents: Certificate issued by the Finnish Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Ministere du commerce et de l'industrie) confirming the need for Class 1 poison in industrial or artisanal production (required for industrial/artisanal recipients; certificate must specify the poison concerned)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 28
Medicine & supplements
2 conditional
- Conditional
Narcotics
Narcotics such as morphine and heroin are conditionally permitted only when shipped for medical or scientific purposes and authorized by the destination country's Ministry of the Interior (Ministère de l'intérieur). All other shipments of narcotics are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Shipped for medical or scientific purposes AND authorized by the destination country's Ministry of the Interior (Ministère de l'intérieur) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Ministry of the Interior of the destination country (Ministère de l'intérieur)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Conditional
Pharmaceutical / Chemical Substances (Drugs)
Pharmaceutical and chemical substances may only be shipped to Finland when consigned to specific authorized recipients, including pharmacists, licensed manufacturers or sellers, directors of approved scientific research institutions, and certain licensed scientists or university heads. Pharmaceuticals containing 2.25 grams or more of alcohol per 100 grams by weight additionally require authorization from the destination country's Ministry of Social Affairs (Ministère des affaires sociales).
Conditions and documents
- Consigned to a pharmacist → permitted
- Consigned to a manufacturer of pharmaceutical/chemical substances → permitted
- Consigned to a person licensed to sell pharmaceutical/chemical substances → permitted
- Consigned to the director of a scientific research laboratory attached to or officially subsidized by a university or higher educational institution, and the item is needed for laboratory or school research (not for medical purposes) → permitted
- Consigned to the president or a scientist of a legitimately authorized private scientific university, and the item is to be used for scientific research → permitted
- Consigned to the duly authorized director of a public research institution funded or subsidized by the state or a municipality, and the item is needed for research → permitted
- Consigned to the director of medical services at a national hospital, for use in experimental medicine → permitted
- Pharmaceutical contains 2.25 grams or more of alcohol per 100 grams by weight → authorization from the destination country's Ministry of Social Affairs (Ministère des affaires sociales) required
Documents: Authorization from the Ministry of Social Affairs of Finland (Ministère des affaires sociales) — required when the pharmaceutical contains 2.25 g or more of alcohol per 100 g by weight
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Alcohol
1 conditional
- Conditional
Alcoholic Beverages and Related Products
Alcoholic beverages are only permitted when addressed to 'OY ALKO AB' and sent as trade samples. However, products with low alcohol content such as perfumes, lotions, and similar items containing denatured alcohol are permitted without restriction.
Conditions and documents
- Alcoholic beverages addressed to 'OY ALKO AB' and sent as trade samples → permitted
- Products with low alcohol content such as perfumes, lotions, and similar items containing denatured alcohol → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
Books & printed matter
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Publications and Printed Matter of an Immoral Nature
Publications and printed matter of an immoral nature are prohibited from being sent to Finland via Regular, Parcel, and EMS shipments. This applies to all applicable shipping types without exception.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Food
1 conditional
- Conditional
Meat and Meat Products
Meat and meat products may be sent to Finland only with authorization from the Veterinary Director General of the destination country's Ministry of Agriculture. Canned meat and meat products not exceeding 8 kg are permitted if the meat poses no risk of contagious disease through boiling or heating; rendered fat, bacon, tallow, meat extract, and solid consommé are permitted only with a certificate confirming they were produced at a temperature of at least 80°C.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the Veterinary Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture of the destination country → permitted
- Canned meat and meat products not exceeding 8 kg, where the meat poses no risk of contagious disease through boiling or heating → permitted
- Rendered fat, bacon, tallow, meat extract, and solid consommé accompanied by a certificate confirming production at a temperature of at least 80°C → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Veterinary Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministère de l'agriculture) of Finland; Certificate confirming that rendered fat, bacon, tallow, meat extract, or solid consommé was produced at a temperature of at least 80°C
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 02
Weapons
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Weapons, Ammunition, and Related Items
Weapons, ammunition, and explosive devices — including imitations of these, air guns, starter pistols, gas guns, and firearm parts — are prohibited from shipment to Finland via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Other items
1 prohibited · 3 conditional
- Prohibited
Lottery Tickets
Lottery tickets are prohibited from being shipped to Finland via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This restriction covers lottery tickets and similar lottery vouchers.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Plant incinerator
Import of plant incinerators is permitted only for scientific purposes with authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. All other imports are not allowed under this restriction.
Conditions and documents
- For scientific purposes with authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Finland)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 84
- Conditional
Rags
Rags are conditionally permitted provided they are carefully packed and the importer notifies the Director of Medical Services of the destination country, before customs clearance, of the manufacturing facility to which the rags will be sent.
Conditions and documents
- Rags are carefully packed AND the importer notifies the Director of Medical Services of the destination country, prior to customs clearance, of the manufacturing facility to which the rags will be sent → permitted
Documents: Prior notification to the Director of Medical Services of the destination country stating the manufacturing facility to which the rags will be sent
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 63
- Conditional
Used clothing
Used clothing may be shipped to Finland only if it has been thoroughly washed. Unwashed used clothing is not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- thoroughly washed → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 63
Applies to every destination, including Finland
Japan Post applies 278 carrier-wide rules to every country on top of the rules above — outright bans on dangerous goods such as perfume, aerosols and lighters, and conditions on items such as lithium batteries.
Not sure about a specific item for Finland?
This page lists Japan Post's rules. The ShipMate GO app checks your actual item against them, asks the one or two questions a conditional rule needs, and tells you the outcome before anything is charged. Sending a parcel from Japan? Booking is free and you pay once, after weighing. Shopping from abroad with Shop for Me? Anything that can't ship is dropped from your order before you pay for the goods.
Common questions
- What can't I ship from Japan to Finland?
- Japan Post's import rules for Finland prohibit 4 item types, including White Phosphorus Matches; Publications and Printed Matter of an Immoral Nature; Lottery Tickets; Weapons, Ammunition, and Related Items. On top of these, Japan Post refuses dangerous goods such as perfume, aerosols and loose lithium batteries to every destination.
- Which items can be shipped to Finland only under conditions?
- 12 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Rags; Mammals, Birds (live), Raw Meat, Milk, Milk Fat, and Bird Eggs; Fish and Crustaceans; Alcoholic Beverages and Related Products; Plants; Plant incinerator; Used clothing; Toxic substances (poisons); and 4 more. Whether a specific product qualifies depends on the item, which is what the ShipMate GO app checks before you book.
- Does an item that isn't listed here ship freely to Finland?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Finland; an item that isn't named has no specific rule here, but it may still fall under Japan Post's carrier-wide bans or a general category such as food or medicine. Check the exact item in the ShipMate GO app, which reads these rules live and asks the follow-up questions a conditional rule needs.