What you can't ship from Japan to Malta
21 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 13 item types that cannot be sent to Malta and 8 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
- 13
- Conditional
- 8
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Malta. 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 prohibited · 5 conditional
- Prohibited
Grapevine plants (excluding one-year-old vines and seeds)
Grapevine plants (excluding one-year-old vines and seeds) are prohibited from being shipped to Malta. Fresh grape fruit is also covered under this entry but may be permitted with an import licence from the relevant Maltese authorities.
Details and exceptions
- Fresh grape fruit with import licence from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Import licence from the relevant authorities of Malta (required for fresh grape fruit)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
- Prohibited
Live pests and harmful organisms
Live pests, plant pathogens, bacterial cultures, fungi, and other harmful or disease-carrying organisms are prohibited from shipment to Malta via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This covers any living organism capable of causing harm or spreading disease.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 01
- Prohibited
Potatoes and fresh vegetables (with specified exceptions)
Potatoes (for consumption and for planting) and fresh vegetables are prohibited for shipment to Malta, except for broad beans, topped carrots, cabbage, pumpkin/squash, eggplant/aubergine, onions, leeks, and garlic. All other fresh vegetables and potatoes remain prohibited.
Details and exceptions
- broad beans (空豆) → permitted
- topped carrots (葉を切りとったにんじん) → permitted
- cabbage (キャベツ) → permitted
- pumpkin / squash (かぼちゃ) → permitted
- eggplant / aubergine (なす) → permitted
- onions (玉ねぎ) → permitted
- leeks (ねぎ) → permitted
- garlic (にんにく) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 07
- Prohibited
Tomato seedlings and similar plants
Tomato seedlings, fruit trees (excluding their fresh fruit), roses, and ornamental plants and trees are prohibited from being shipped to Malta via regular, parcel, and EMS services. Fresh fruit of fruit trees is explicitly excluded from this prohibition.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
- Conditional
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits may be shipped to Malta only if accompanied by a phytosanitary/quarantine certificate. Shipment without such documentation is not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Quarantine certificate is attached → permitted
- No quarantine certificate attached → prohibited
Documents: Quarantine certificate (検疫証明書)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 08
- Conditional
Plants and Plant Products
A wide range of plants and plant products (including plants for cultivation, bulbs, seeds for sowing, cut flowers, cut branches, fruits (excluding pineapple, coconut, durian, banana, and dates), vegetables, timber, and bark) require a phytosanitary certificate; without it, import is not permitted. All plants and plant parts are allowed only with a phytosanitary certificate, except for grapevines, fresh grapes, tomato seedlings, fruit trees (excluding their fresh fruit), roses, ornamental plants, edible potatoes, seed potatoes, and certain fresh vegetables (broad beans, topped carrots, cabbage, pumpkin, eggplant, onion, leek, and garlic).
Conditions and documents
- Phytosanitary certificate is attached for plants requiring it (cultivation plants, bulbs, seeds for sowing, cut flowers, cut branches, fruits (excl. pineapple, coconut, durian, banana, dates), vegetables, timber, bark, and all other plants and plant parts not in the exempted list) → Import permitted
- No phytosanitary certificate for plants that require one → Import not permitted
- Item is grapevine, fresh grapes, tomato seedlings, fruit trees (excl. fresh fruit), roses, ornamental plants, edible potatoes, seed potatoes, or specified fresh vegetables (broad beans, topped carrots, cabbage, pumpkin, eggplant, onion, leek, garlic) → Phytosanitary certificate not required; import permitted without certificate
Documents: Phytosanitary certificate (植物検疫証明書)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
- Conditional
Potatoes
Potatoes may only be shipped to Malta if accompanied by a certificate of origin and a phytosanitary (quarantine) certificate. Shipments lacking either document are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Certificate of origin and quarantine certificate are attached → permitted
- Certificate of origin or quarantine certificate is missing → not permitted
Documents: Certificate of origin (原産地証明書); Quarantine certificate / phytosanitary certificate (検疫済証明書)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 07
- Conditional
Silkworm eggs (silkworm seed)
Silkworm eggs may be shipped to Malta, but only if they are appropriately packaged. Shipments without suitable packaging are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Appropriate packaging is applied → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 01
- Conditional
Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) Seeds
Seeds of sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) may only be shipped to Malta if accompanied by documentation certifying that the seeds were harvested more than 12 months prior. Shipments without such documentation are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Documentation certifying the seeds were harvested more than 12 months prior is attached → permitted
- Documentation certifying harvest date more than 12 months prior is not attached → prohibited
Documents: Certificate confirming seeds were harvested more than 12 months prior to shipment
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 12
Weapons
2 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Percussion caps / cartridge cases / fuse materials / matches (war-like stores)
Percussion caps and cartridge cases for portable firearms, non-explosive artillery fuse materials, and matches are prohibited from shipment to Malta via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. These items fall under the category of war-like stores and related ignition materials.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Prohibited
Switchblade Knife (Flick Knife)
Switchblade knives (flick knives) are prohibited from being shipped to Malta via regular, parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions are indicated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Conditional
Weapons
Weapons are conditionally permitted for shipment to Malta. Import requires prior authorization from the police authorities of the destination.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the police authorities of the destination (Malta) → permitted
- No authorization from the police authorities of the destination → prohibited
Documents: Authorization from the police authorities of the destination (Malta)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Currency & valuables
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Registered ordinary mail containing banknotes, currency, bearer securities, traveler's checks, or jewels
Registered ordinary mail items that contain banknotes, paper currency, bearer securities, traveler's checks, or jewels are prohibited for shipment to Malta. This restriction applies to regular shipping.
- Prohibited
Valuables
Coins, platinum, gold, silver, gemstones, and other valuables are prohibited from shipment to Malta via regular mail. This restriction covers a broad range of precious metals, currency coins, and precious stones.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
Medicine & supplements
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Contraceptive and Abortifacient Articles
Contraceptive and abortifacient articles are prohibited from shipment to Malta via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition covers items intended for contraceptive or abortion purposes.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 90
- Conditional
Narcotics
Opium, morphine, cocaine, and other narcotics are only permitted when sent for medical or scientific purposes and when authorisation has been obtained from the Chief Medical Officer at the destination. Shipments not meeting both conditions are prohibited.
Conditions and documents
- Sent for medical or scientific purposes AND authorisation obtained from the Chief Medical Officer at the destination → permitted
Documents: Authorisation from the Chief Medical Officer at the destination (Malta)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Chemicals
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Celluloid
Celluloid and celluloid products are prohibited for shipment to Malta, including celluloid that has not had volatile substances fully removed, raw celluloid, liquid celluloid, insufficiently packaged celluloid, and celluloid products.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 39
Other items
3 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Articles contrary to public morality
Printed matter, pictures, photographs, books, and other articles contrary to public morality are prohibited from shipment to Malta via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This restriction covers all such materials regardless of medium or format.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Lottery tickets and lottery-related documents
Lottery tickets and documents related to lotteries are prohibited from being shipped to Malta via Regular and EMS services. This applies to both the tickets themselves and any associated paperwork or literature.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Shaving Brush
Shaving brushes are prohibited from being shipped to Malta via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This restriction applies regardless of material or type.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 96
- Conditional
Items dispatched from areas with active infectious disease outbreaks
Items sent from regions where an infectious disease outbreak is occurring are only permitted when the competent authorities at the destination have granted approval.
Conditions and documents
- Dispatched from an area with an active infectious disease outbreak → Permitted only with approval from the competent authorities at the destination
Documents: Permission from the competent authorities at the destination (Malta)
Applies to every destination, including Malta
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 Malta?
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 Malta?
- Japan Post's import rules for Malta prohibit 13 item types, including Celluloid; Tomato seedlings and similar plants; Potatoes and fresh vegetables (with specified exceptions); Grapevine plants (excluding one-year-old vines and seeds); Shaving Brush; Valuables; Registered ordinary mail containing banknotes, currency, bearer securities, traveler's checks, or jewels; Live pests and harmful organisms; and 5 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 Malta only under conditions?
- 8 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Citrus Fruits; Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) Seeds; Potatoes; Silkworm eggs (silkworm seed); Plants and Plant Products; Items dispatched from areas with active infectious disease outbreaks; Weapons; Narcotics. 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 Malta?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Malta; 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.