Importing Farmed Shrimp into Japan from India, Ecuador and Peru: Residue Rules, Specifications and Checks

Japan's frozen shrimp imports by origin

Japan reported USD 1,320.2 million of frozen warm- and cold-water shrimp imports (HS 030616 and 030617) for 2024 to UN Comtrade. The five origins in our Japan map account for very different shares. The HS codes do not say whether shrimp were farmed or wild-caught, so the method column comes from other sources and must be confirmed per lot.

• Full Japan sourcing map by origin

Farmed or wild: why it changes the checks

Farmed shrimp can carry residues of drugs or chemicals used in ponds and hatcheries, so Japan's veterinary-drug residue standards and any inspection orders are the central checks. Japan's food labelling rules also require farmed seafood sold fresh, frozen or thawed to be labelled as farmed (養殖), and thawed product as thawed (解凍). Wild shrimp carries neither the farmed statement nor the farm-residue risk profile, but still needs the import notification and the general residue standards.

Because many Indian and some Ecuadorian packers process both farmed and wild shrimp, ask for a production-method statement and the farm or catch area for every lot.

India: the cultured shrimp inspection order

MHLW's inspection-order list (Appendix 1, last amended 23 October 2026) names cultured shrimp from India other than black tiger (Penaeus monodon), and its simply processed products, for furazolidone testing at every import. In practice this means each shipment of Indian farmed vannamei is held until the test result is available. Schedule 3 of MHLW's monitoring plan (as of 23 October 2026) also lists one Indian cultured-shrimp manufacturer for enhanced malachite-green monitoring.

Species therefore changes the procedure: black tiger is outside this order, vannamei is inside it. Put the species on every offer line and ask each supplier for its recent Japan test history.

Ecuador and Peru

Ecuador's value to Japan roughly doubled from USD 51.8 million in 2023 to USD 102.3 million in 2024. The general residue standards and MHLW monitoring apply to Ecuadorian shrimp, and MHLW can add a country, product or plant to an inspection order after a violation, so check the current Appendix 1 before each contract. Peru shipped USD 7.2 million of frozen warm-water shrimp to Japan in 2024; ask whether each lot is farmed or wild.

Additives: sulphites and phosphates

MHLW's additive use standard requires sulphites on shrimp to leave less than 0.10 g of sulphur dioxide per kilogram of peeled flesh. Declare every additive and processing aid on the offer and in the import notification documents, and ask for the lot's test result where sulphites are used. For phosphates or other soaking agents, check the current Japanese standard for the exact additive.

What to specify in a shrimp request for Japan

A precise specification is what makes offers from India, Ecuador and Peru comparable.

1. Species by scientific name (Penaeus vannamei or Penaeus monodon) and production method; farm region or catch area.
2. Form: HOSO, HLSO, PD, PDTO, PUD, nobashi or cooked; raw or cooked.
3. Count per kilogram or per pound, and the tolerance you accept.
4. Glaze percentage and price basis on net weight; block frozen or IQF.
5. Additives allowed and not allowed; residue and antibiotic test reports per lot; for India, furazolidone results.
6. Packing and Japanese label information the importer needs (origin, farmed, thawed where relevant).
7. Volume per shipment, frequency, Japan port, delivery window and Incoterms rule.

• Seafood quotation comparison checklist
• Japan import-readiness checklist (all products)

Organic or sustainability claims

Japan has no Organic JAS standard for aquatic animals, so farmed shrimp cannot carry the Organic JAS mark. MAFF says an organic name is not prohibited for such products but must not mislead. We describe shrimp as organic only with a current organic certificate covering the species, farm and production method, checked with the certifier; other claims, such as ASC or BAP, are described as what they are and checked the same way.

How the request works

Submit one request to Global B2B Group, FishMatch Group's parent, for consolidated sourcing from several origins, supplier screening and logistics coordination. Buyers use the service free, suppliers answer through the team, and there is no direct buyer–supplier contact. Managed requests start at USD 250,000. Producers and exporters remain responsible for product, residues and export documents; the Japanese importer of record files the notification.

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