What you can't ship from Japan to Madagascar
21 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 11 item types that cannot be sent to Madagascar and 10 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
- 11
- Conditional
- 10
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Madagascar. 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.
Medicine & supplements
2 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Contraceptive products
Contraceptive drugs and devices are prohibited from shipment to Madagascar via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This applies to both pharmaceutical contraceptive products and contraceptive devices.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Prohibited
Drugs / Medicines not listed in the official pharmacopoeia
Drugs and medicines that are not listed in the official pharmacopoeia are prohibited from being shipped to Madagascar via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Only pharmaceuticals recognized in the official pharmacopoeia are permitted.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Conditional
Narcotics
Insured letters containing narcotics such as opium, morphine, or cocaine are permitted only when shipped for medical or scientific purposes and with prior authorization from the competent authorities of the destination country (Madagascar).
Conditions and documents
- Shipped for medical or scientific purposes AND prior authorization obtained from the competent authorities of Madagascar → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the competent authorities of Madagascar
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Conditional
Narcotics
Narcotics such as opium, morphine, and cocaine are only permitted when shipped for medical or scientific purposes and with prior authorization from the competent authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Shipped for medical or scientific purposes AND authorized by the competent authorities of the destination country (Madagascar) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the competent authorities of Madagascar
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Alcohol
2 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Alcohol
Alcohol is prohibited for shipment to Madagascar via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Prohibited
Wine without country of origin labeling
Wine that does not bear a country of origin indication is prohibited from being shipped to Madagascar. This applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Conditional
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic beverages are subject to restriction; absinthe and similar alcoholic beverages are permitted only when authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Absinthe or similar alcoholic beverages with authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Madagascar)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
Food
1 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Canned goods (fish, vegetables, or plums) without origin marking; boxes of canned sardines exceeding 1 kg
Canned fish, vegetables, or plums that do not bear a stamp indicating their country of origin are prohibited from being shipped to Madagascar. Additionally, boxes containing canned sardines that exceed 1 kilogram in total weight are prohibited.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 16
- Conditional
Edible Oil
Edible oil may be shipped to Madagascar only if authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country. Shipments without such authorization are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Madagascar) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 15
- Conditional
Skimmed Milk
Skimmed milk is conditionally permitted for shipment to Madagascar. It is allowed only when authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 04
Plants & animals
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Contaminated Articles (Articles Liable to Spread Plant Disease)
Articles that may spread plant disease are prohibited from shipment to Madagascar via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
- Conditional
Plants
Plants may only be shipped to Madagascar if the relevant authorities of the destination country have granted permission. Shipment is conditional on obtaining this authorization.
Conditions and documents
- Permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Madagascar) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Weapons
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Ammunition, Matches
Ammunition, charged metallic primers and cartridges for portable firearms, non-explosive fuse materials for cannons, and matches are prohibited from shipment to Madagascar via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Conditional
Weapons
Weapons may only be shipped to Madagascar if the relevant authorities of the destination country have granted permission. Import is conditional on obtaining such authorization.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Madagascar) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Madagascar)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Batteries
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Lithium batteries and electronic devices containing or incorporating lithium batteries
Lithium batteries and lithium battery packs, as well as electronic devices and equipment that contain or have lithium batteries built in or incorporated, are prohibited from shipment to Madagascar. This prohibition applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 85
Chemicals
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Saccharin
Saccharin is prohibited from being shipped to Madagascar via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. No exceptions or conditions are stated.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Other items
2 prohibited · 3 conditional
- Prohibited
Items in violation of laws and regulations (copyright-infringing goods; goods with markings liable to be mistaken as manufactured in France)
Goods that infringe copyright and goods bearing markings likely to cause them to be mistaken as having been manufactured in France are prohibited from shipment to Madagascar. This prohibition applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS services.
- Prohibited
Karuta (Japanese playing cards)
Karuta (Japanese playing cards) are prohibited from shipment to Madagascar via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 95
- Conditional
Feeding bottle (baby feeder)
Feeding bottles with tubes are conditionally permitted for shipment to Madagascar. They are only allowed when the relevant authority of the destination country has granted permission.
Conditions and documents
- Feeding bottle has a tube attached → permitted only with authorization from the relevant authority of the destination country
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authority of Madagascar
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 39
- Conditional
Rubber and rubber products
Rubber and rubber products that have undergone high-temperature vulcanization are conditionally permitted, provided that authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country. Standard rubber products not subject to high-temperature vulcanization treatment are permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Rubber and rubber products subjected to high-temperature vulcanization process → Permitted only with authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of Madagascar
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 40
- Conditional
Wristwatch
Wristwatches are permitted only when shipped as an insured parcel and packaged in a sturdy metal or wooden box.
Conditions and documents
- Shipped as an insured parcel AND packaged in a sturdy metal or wooden box → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 91
Applies to every destination, including Madagascar
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 Madagascar?
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 Madagascar?
- Japan Post's import rules for Madagascar prohibit 11 item types, including Alcohol; Karuta (Japanese playing cards); Canned goods (fish, vegetables, or plums) without origin marking; boxes of canned sardines exceeding 1 kg; Saccharin; Wine without country of origin labeling; Contaminated Articles (Articles Liable to Spread Plant Disease); Ammunition, Matches; Contraceptive products; and 3 more. 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 Madagascar only under conditions?
- 10 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Rubber and rubber products; Alcoholic Beverages; Feeding bottle (baby feeder); Plants; Edible Oil; Skimmed Milk; Weapons; Narcotics; and 2 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 Madagascar?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Madagascar; 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.