Is vaping with nicotine legal? About the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law

We are a company based in Hawaii, USA, and we sell nicotine-containing VAPE products online (personal import) to Japanese customers. This page provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the regulations on nicotine-containing VAPE products in Japan under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.

In conclusion, it is legal to import and use vapes containing nicotine from the United States for personal use.

In Japan, nicotine-containing VAPE is strictly regulated by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau announced the following on November 17, 2016:

Legally, cartridges and liquids for electronic cigarettes that contain nicotine are considered medicines. When importing for personal use, as long as the amount is less than one month's worth based on the dosage and usage, customs clearance is possible with a simple customs check. Specifically, the limit is 60 cartridges or less, and 120ml or less for liquid. However, if you are importing more than one month's worth for personal use, you will need to obtain a drug inspection certificate.

In addition, devices that atomize nicotine-containing VAPE products are considered medical devices. Up to one unit of this device (and one more unit if a spare is needed) can be cleared through customs with a simple customs inspection. The quantity limit is based on the number of parts with atomizing function (atomizer, cartomizer, etc.).

Due to the above regulations, using nicotine-containing VAPE devices imported from the United States in Japan is a legal act that does not violate the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. When importing for personal use, it is important to keep in mind that the quantity should be less than one month's supply and to comply with the regulations of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.

In order to provide accurate and appropriate information, we recommend that you check the latest information on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. We clearly inform our customers in Japan of the regulations of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and encourage them to comply with the regulations when importing products for personal use.

In conclusion, purchasing nicotine-containing VAPE products from the United States for personal use and using them in Japan is a legal act that does not violate the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. Based on the notification of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, if the quantity is less than one month's worth, customs clearance is possible with a simple confirmation from customs. However, it is important to be aware of the regulations of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and provide accurate information. We inform our customers of the regulations of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and urge them to comply with the regulations when importing for personal use.

This concludes our explanation of the regulations on nicotine-containing VAPE in Japan under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.