The Japanese government has recently signaled its intention to abolish the current import notification system for cosmetics, quasi drugs and medical devices in an effort to speed up international importation processes.
At present, importers are required to submit documentation in duplicate to the government and the local prefectures in Japan. It is expected that from next year onwards importers will no longer have to fulfill this requirement which should expedite the import of cosmetics in Japan.
This is the latest in a broader Japanese government policy to create a market environment with greater regulatory transparency and alignment of product standards with international best practices.
* Reference Link: Cosmetics and quasi-drugs - getting closer to a level playing field