What you can't ship from Japan to Netherlands
18 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 7 item types that cannot be sent to Netherlands and 11 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 August 1, 2026.
- Prohibited
- 7
- Conditional
- 11
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Netherlands. 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
1 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Pharmaceuticals / Medicinal Drugs (unregistered or registration pending in the Netherlands)
Pharmaceutical products and medicinal drugs that are not registered or whose registration is pending in the Netherlands are prohibited from shipment via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This restriction applies regardless of the type of medication.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Conditional
Narcotics
Narcotics such as opium, morphine, and cocaine are only permitted when sent for medical or scientific purposes and when authorisation has been obtained from the competent authorities of the destination country (the Netherlands).
Conditions and documents
- Sent for medical or scientific purposes AND authorisation obtained from the competent authorities of the Netherlands → permitted
Documents: Authorisation from the competent authorities of the Netherlands
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Conditional
Sera and Vaccines
Sera and vaccines shipped to the Netherlands are subject to inspection upon arrival; depending on the outcome, they may be returned to the sender or destroyed.
Conditions and documents
- Upon inspection by destination country authorities → May be permitted, returned to sender, or destroyed depending on inspection result
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Weapons
1 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Ammunition and Matches
Ammunition components including primed metallic cartridge cases for portable firearms, non-explosive artillery fuze components, and matches are prohibited from shipment to the Netherlands via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Conditional
Firearms and their parts
Firearms and their parts may only be shipped to the Netherlands if the relevant authorities of the destination country have granted permission. Shipment is conditional on obtaining this authorization.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Netherlands) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Netherlands)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Conditional
Small Firearms and Concealed Weapons
Slim daggers, switchblades/flick knives, brass knuckles, sword canes, small firearms that emit toxic or asphyxiating/incapacitating substances, and disguised/concealed small firearms (those not appearing to be weapons) — along with their component parts — are conditionally permitted. Importation is allowed only when accompanied by an authorization permit issued by the Minister of Justice (Ministre de la justice) of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization permit from the Minister of Justice (Ministre de la justice) of the Netherlands is attached → permitted
Documents: Authorization permit from the Minister of Justice (Ministre de la justice) of the Netherlands
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Food
2 conditional
- Conditional
Meat and Meat Products
Meat and meat products (including poultry) are conditionally permitted for both personal and commercial imports, provided a veterinary certificate issued by a veterinarian in the country of origin is attached. This applies to shipments via regular mail, parcel, and EMS.
Conditions and documents
- Veterinary certificate issued by a veterinarian in the country of origin is attached (for both personal and commercial imports) → permitted
Documents: Veterinary certificate issued by a veterinarian in the country of origin
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 02
- Conditional
Milk and dairy products
Milk and dairy products may be imported into the Netherlands for both personal and commercial purposes, but only when accompanied by a veterinary certificate issued by a veterinarian in the country of origin.
Conditions and documents
- Veterinary certificate issued by a veterinarian in the country of origin is attached (personal and commercial imports) → permitted
Documents: Veterinary certificate issued by a veterinarian in the country of origin
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 04
Plants & animals
2 conditional
- Conditional
Honeybees, bee packages, and used beehives
Honeybees, bee packages (みつぶさ), and used beehives are conditionally permitted for shipment to the Netherlands. Import is allowed only with authorization from the Minister of Agriculture of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the Minister of Agriculture of the Netherlands (Ministre de l'agriculture) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Minister of Agriculture of the Netherlands (Ministre de l'agriculture)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 01
- Conditional
Plants (phytosanitary-regulated)
A wide range of plant materials — 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 to be accepted for import into the Netherlands; shipments without such a certificate will not be permitted. An export inspection by a plant protection station and/or an import permit from the destination country's plant protection authority may also be required under Japan's Plant Protection Act.
Conditions and documents
- Phytosanitary certificate is attached → Import permitted (conditional)
- No phytosanitary certificate → Import not permitted
Documents: Phytosanitary certificate (植物検疫証明書); Export inspection by plant protection station (植物防疫所による輸出検査) — may be required under Japan's Plant Protection Act; Import permit from destination country's plant protection authority (名宛国の輸入許可証) — may be required
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Alcohol
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Absinthe
Absinthe is prohibited for shipment to the Netherlands via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This restriction applies regardless of packaging or quantity.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
Books & printed matter
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Printed matter infringing copyright law of the destination country
Printed matter that violates the copyright law of the Netherlands is prohibited from being shipped via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This covers any printed materials that infringe upon the intellectual property rights protected under Dutch copyright legislation.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Chemicals
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Aniline (arsenic-containing residue from aniline dye manufacturing)
Aniline and residual byproducts generated during the manufacture of aniline dyes that contain arsenic are prohibited from shipment to the Netherlands via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition covers both aniline itself and arsenic-bearing manufacturing residues associated with aniline dye production.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Currency & valuables
1 conditional
- Conditional
Negotiable Instruments and Securities
Negotiable payment instruments, securities, bond certificates, and government debt certificates may only be shipped to the Netherlands if prior authorization has been obtained from De Nederlandsche Bank in Amsterdam.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from De Nederlandsche Bank (Dutch Bank) in Amsterdam → permitted
Documents: Authorization from De Nederlandsche Bank in Amsterdam
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Tobacco
1 conditional
- Conditional
Tobacco and tobacco products
Shipments of tobacco and tobacco products to the Netherlands are conditional: business-to-consumer shipments are prohibited, while person-to-person gift shipments (no payment or remuneration) are permitted up to specified quantity limits per product type, subject to accurate customs declaration and a total contents value not exceeding €45. Shipments to licensed/approved businesses in the destination country are permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Sender is a business, recipient is a private individual → prohibited
- Sender is a private individual, recipient is a private individual, no payment or remuneration involved, quantities within limits (cigarettes ≤ 50, cigars ≤ 10, cigarillos ≤ 25 (≤3g each), rolling/pipe tobacco ≤ 50g), total value of all contents ≤ €45, and customs declaration accurately completed → permitted
- Total value of contents exceeds €45, customs declaration is missing, or customs declaration is incomplete → confiscated by customs authorities
- Recipient is an approved/licensed business in the Netherlands → permitted
Documents: Customs declaration (CN22/CN23) with accurate description of contents
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 24
Other items
2 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Lottery tickets and lottery-related articles
Lottery tickets and articles related to lotteries that are either issued by a country other than the Netherlands or are lotteries prohibited within the Netherlands are not permitted to be sent via Regular or EMS mail. This prohibition covers both the tickets themselves and any associated lottery materials.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Wristwatches
Wristwatches are prohibited from being shipped to the Netherlands via EMS. No additional details or conditions are specified in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 91
- Conditional
Goods sent for commercial purposes
Items shipped for commercial purposes to the Netherlands are conditionally permitted, but only when the required authorization has been obtained from the relevant Dutch authorities. Depending on the nature of the shipment, approval from De Nederlandsche Bank in Amsterdam may also be required.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from Centrale Dienst voor In- en Uitvoer, van Stolkweg 14, 's-Gravenhage, and where applicable, from De Nederlandsche Bank in Amsterdam → permitted
Documents: Authorization from Centrale Dienst voor In- en Uitvoer (van Stolkweg 14, 's-Gravenhage); Authorization from De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam (where applicable)
Applies to every destination, including Netherlands
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 Netherlands?
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 Netherlands?
- Japan Post's import rules for Netherlands prohibit 7 item types, including Aniline (arsenic-containing residue from aniline dye manufacturing); Absinthe; Pharmaceuticals / Medicinal Drugs (unregistered or registration pending in the Netherlands); Printed matter infringing copyright law of the destination country; Ammunition and Matches; Lottery tickets and lottery-related articles; Wristwatches. 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 Netherlands only under conditions?
- 11 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Tobacco and tobacco products; Honeybees, bee packages, and used beehives; Milk and dairy products; Sera and Vaccines; Firearms and their parts; Goods sent for commercial purposes; Small Firearms and Concealed Weapons; Plants (phytosanitary-regulated); and 3 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 Netherlands?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Netherlands; 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.