How to Import Matcha from Japan to Thailand: Compliance, Documents & Shipping

Yes — you can import matcha from Japan to Thailand, and it is a well-trodden trade lane, but it is a two-sided compliance job. On the Thailand side, commercial food imports are regulated by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA): the importer must hold a food-import licence, register or notify the product, meet Thai-language labeling rules, and clear customs with the tea classified under HS heading 0902. On the Japan side, your exporter must supply the origin, quality and food-safety documentation — a per-lot certificate of analysis (COA), pesticide (MRL) and heavy-metal results, and export/origin papers — that the Thai registration and your buyers depend on. This guide separates the export-side documents from the import-side procedure, gives you a document checklist and an import-step table, explains HS 0902 and the Japan–Thailand FTA (JTEPA), and shows where JMEX handles the Japan half so the two sides line up.

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If you face these concerns, consult with Matcha Times. Feel free to contact us for initial inquiries.

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Key Takeaways

• Importing matcha into Thailand is a two-sided compliance job: the Thai importer handles the Thai FDA licence, product registration and Thai-language labeling; the Japanese exporter supplies origin, COA, MRL and export documents. Both halves must line up before the shipment moves.
• Commercial imports are regulated by the Thai FDA — the importer needs a food-import licence and a Thai business presence, so most overseas exporters work through a licensed Thai importer or customs broker.
• Tea, including matcha, sits under HS heading 0902; the applicable duty depends on Thailand’s national tariff schedule and any JTEPA preference, so confirm the current line-level rate with a licensed customs broker.
• The document that most often stalls a shipment is a complete per-lot COA — commission it up front from an accredited lab and confirm which certificates your Thai registration and channel require.
• Treat Thai FDA registration, labeling and testing as part of the sourcing decision, not a later hurdle; confirm every current requirement with the Thai FDA or a customs broker before you ship.

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Can you import matcha into Thailand? Requirements at a glance

The direct answer: matcha is an ordinary imported food in Thailand, so it is allowed for commercial sale, provided the import is made by a licensed importer, the product is registered or notified as required, the label meets Thai rules, and customs documentation is complete. There is no matcha-specific ban; the work is procedural. The requirements fall into two layers — the Thailand import layer and the Japan export layer — and a shipment clears only when both are satisfied.

• Thailand import layer: a food-import licence held by a Thai legal entity, product registration/notification where required, Thai-language labeling, and customs clearance under HS 0902.
• Japan export layer: confirmed Japanese origin, a per-lot COA with microbiological, pesticide (MRL) and heavy-metal results, and export/origin documents (commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin).
• Who does what: because the import applicant needs a Thai business presence, an overseas exporter almost always partners with a licensed Thai importer or a customs broker rather than importing directly.

The regulatory framework: Thai FDA and customs

In Thailand, imported food is regulated by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) under the Food Act, and cleared at the border by Thai Customs through the National Single Window. The two work together: Customs does not issue the food approval — it releases the shipment against the FDA licence and product authorisation the importer already holds. Missing FDA paperwork means the cargo is held at the border, so the registration work happens before the goods travel.

To import commercially, the importer first obtains a food-import licence, which requires a commercial registration certificate and suitable, FDA-compliant storage premises in Thailand. Controlled or standard-bearing foods then need a product licence / serial number as proof of FDA authorisation, while some general foods can be imported without an individual serial number. Because these steps assume a Thai business presence, the practical route for a Japanese exporter is to work through a Thai importer of record.

For market context — not a matcha-specific figure — official Japan MAFF / Ministry of Finance trade data put Japan’s green tea exports (all forms combined, not matcha only) at roughly ¥36.4 billion and 8,798 tonnes in 2024; matcha is one part of that flow. Read value and volume separately and never treat the green-tea total as a matcha-only number. Commercial market-research providers also report strong growth in Thai matcha demand, though such estimates vary by provider and market definition.

Required documents: COA, MRL testing, origin and labeling

This is where a Thailand-bound matcha order is won or lost, and where most generic import guides stop short. Documentation splits between what your Japanese exporter must produce and what your Thai importer files. Get the export-side papers commissioned early — a missing or incomplete COA is the single most common reason a food shipment stalls.

On testing specifically, verify pesticide (MRL) and heavy-metal limits against the current authority limits rather than assuming a number: Thailand applies its own maximum residue limits and food-safety standards, and your COA must demonstrate the lot meets them. Ask the exporter which pesticides and heavy metals are screened and to what limits, and match that to the requirements your importer confirms with the Thai FDA.

HS classification and duty: HS 0902 and JTEPA

For customs, matcha is green tea and is classified under HS heading 0902 (green tea) — commonly 0902.10 for immediate packings of 3 kg or less and 0902.20 for larger/bulk green tea. Confirm the exact sub-heading with your broker, because the packing form affects the line. The applicable import duty depends on Thailand’s national tariff schedule and on whether the goods qualify for preference under the Japan–Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA).

JTEPA entered into force on 1 November 2007 and progressively eliminated or reduced tariffs across most Japan–Thailand trade. To claim a JTEPA preferential rate, the goods must satisfy the agreement’s rules of origin — for example, wholly obtained, a change in tariff classification, or a qualifying value content of at least 40% of the FOB price — and travel with a JTEPA-form certificate of origin. Whether matcha attracts a preferential or standard rate, and the exact figure, is a line-level question: confirm the current rate with a licensed Thai customs broker rather than assuming a single percentage.

A practical point on cost: compare suppliers on landed cost, not on the ex-works price alone. Landed cost adds freight, insurance, the applicable duty, any clearance and FDA fees, and Thai-side handling — and a preferential JTEPA rate only helps if your origin documentation is in order.

Step-by-step: the matcha import flow into Thailand

A disciplined sequence keeps the export and import halves aligned. A practical flow for bringing Japanese matcha into Thailand runs as follows:

1. Appoint a licensed Thai importer of record (or confirm your own Thai entity holds one) and confirm FDA-compliant storage premises.
2. Register or notify the product with the Thai FDA and prepare compliant Thai-language labeling using the exporter’s product data.
3. Commission the export-side documents from the Japanese exporter — per-lot COA (microbiological, MRL, heavy metals), certificate of origin, invoice, packing list and any organic/Halal certificates.
4. Confirm the HS 0902 classification and duty treatment with a customs broker, including any JTEPA preference and the certificate-of-origin form needed to claim it.
5. Ship under agreed incoterms (FOB/CIF), then clear customs through the National Single Window against the FDA licence and product authorisation.
6. Store correctly and manage turnover — matcha loses colour and flavour over time, so match order size to real sell-through and keep the cold, sealed, low-light storage the powder needs.

Avoid the recurring mistakes: treating all “matcha” as equal regardless of origin, leaving Thai FDA registration and labeling to the last minute, assuming a single duty figure without a broker, comparing ex-works prices instead of landed cost, and ordering more than turnover can sell before the powder degrades.

How to evaluate a matcha exporter for a Thailand import

Rather than ranking brands, evaluate any exporter against the same verifiable, compliance-focused criteria — the things a Thailand import actually depends on. Apply the checklist equally to every candidate, including JMEX.

The most useful questions to ask an exporter are concrete: Can you confirm Japanese origin and issue a JTEPA-form certificate of origin? Can I see the COA for the exact lot I would receive, and which MRLs and heavy metals are screened? Which certifications do you hold, and are they recognised for my Thai channel? Can you supply the product data my importer needs for Thai-language labeling and FDA registration? Exporters who answer precisely — and put the answers in writing — are the ones worth scaling with.

Sources & Methodology

This guide synthesises official Thai and Japanese food-safety, customs and trade sources. Each source below states what it supports, its date and its scope; all figures are external primary or official sources, and no unverified number is presented as fact. Regulatory detail changes, so confirm the current requirement and duty with the named authority or a licensed customs broker before shipping.

• Thai Food and Drug Administration — Food Importation — Thailand food-import licence (importer registration), product serial number, storage-premises and document requirements — accessed 2026 Thailand food import
• Japan Customs — Outline of the Japan–Thailand EPA (JTEPA) — JTEPA framework and tariff-liberalisation coverage relevant to Japan–Thailand trade — accessed 2026 Japan–Thailand FTA
• Japan Customs — Tariff elimination/reduction under JTEPA — How JTEPA tariff elimination/reduction and rules of origin apply — accessed 2026 JTEPA tariffs / rules of origin
• Japan Customs (English) — Tea tariff classification under HS heading 0902 (Harmonized System) — accessed 2026 HS classification / customs
• Japan MOFA — Japan–Thailand EPA agreement text — JTEPA agreement, entry into force (2007) and rules-of-origin provisions — 2007 Japan–Thailand FTA
• USDA FAS — food & agricultural import regulations (Thailand) — Thailand food-import and labeling regulatory context — accessed 2026 Thailand food import
• Japan MAFF / Ministry of Finance — tea export statistics — Japan green-tea export value/volume 2024 (green-tea TOTAL, not matcha-only) — 2024 Japan green tea exports

Why Buyers Choose JMEX (Japan Matcha Export Organization)

One supplier that meets these criteria at a high level is JMEX (Japan Matcha Export Organization), a wholesale and export partner dedicated to bringing Japanese matcha overseas. It designs origin selection, quality assurance, export documentation, and logistics as one continuous flow, built for export from the start.

With a track record of exports to 43 countries, JMEX handles the Japan half of a Thailand import on the export side: confirmed Japanese origin and grade design for your application and channel, per-lot COA with MRL and heavy-metal testing, organic (JAS) and Halal certification support, certificate of origin for JTEPA claims, and the commercial and product documentation your Thai importer needs for Thai FDA registration and Thai-language labeling — with stable recurring supply from 10 kg to 1 t per month for importers, wholesalers, OEM and health and wellness brands across Thailand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from Thailand-based importers and brands bringing in Japanese matcha, from licensing and documents to HS code and duty.

Is Japanese matcha allowed for commercial sale in Thailand?

Yes. Matcha is treated as an ordinary food, so commercial sale is allowed provided a licensed importer brings it in, the product is registered or notified where required, the label meets Thai FDA rules, and customs documentation is complete. There is no matcha-specific ban; the requirements are procedural, split between the Thailand import layer and the Japan export layer.

Do I need a Thai FDA licence to import matcha?

Commercial food imports into Thailand require the importer to hold a food-import licence, which needs a Thai business presence and FDA-compliant storage premises. Controlled or standard-bearing foods also need a product licence/serial number. Because the applicant needs a Thai entity, most overseas exporters work through a licensed Thai importer or customs broker. Confirm the current requirement with the Thai FDA.

What documents are required to import matcha into Thailand?

On the export side: a per-lot COA (microbiological, pesticide/MRL and heavy-metal results), a certificate of origin, a commercial invoice and packing list, a Free Sale Certificate and product data, and any organic/Halal/food-safety certificates your channel needs. On the import side: the FDA importer licence, product registration/notification, and compliant Thai-language label artwork. A missing or incomplete COA is the most common cause of delay.

Which HS code is matcha classified under for Thai customs?

Matcha is green tea, so it is classified under HS heading 0902 — commonly 0902.10 for immediate packings of 3 kg or less and 0902.20 for larger or bulk green tea. The packing form affects the sub-heading, so confirm the exact classification with your customs broker before you ship, because it drives both the tariff line and the documentary conditions.

Does JTEPA lower the duty on Japanese matcha, and how do I claim it?

The Japan–Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), in force since November 2007, progressively eliminated or reduced tariffs across most bilateral trade. Whether matcha qualifies for a preferential rate depends on the tariff schedule and the rules of origin, and you must present a JTEPA-form certificate of origin to claim it. Confirm the applicable rate and documentary conditions with a customs broker.

What labeling does Thailand require for imported matcha?

Imported food sold in Thailand must carry Thai-language labeling meeting Thai FDA requirements — typically product identity, importer details, net weight, ingredients and country of origin, with no unauthorised claims. The Thai importer usually prepares the label artwork using the exporter’s product data; non-compliant labels can hold cargo pending correction. Confirm the current label rules with the Thai FDA.

Learn More About Global Matcha Trends at Matcha Times

Matcha Times is a specialist media platform covering the global matcha market — sourcing and wholesale, supply and pricing, trade and regulations, production and origins, and the companies shaping the industry.

From market analysis and price trends to café case studies and interviews with tea farmers, we help buyers, importers, distributors, and manufacturers stay ahead of where matcha is heading. Explore more and put the global matcha market to work for your business.

Conclusion

Importing matcha from Japan to Thailand is a procedural, two-sided job: the Thai importer carries the FDA licence, product registration and Thai-language labeling, while the Japanese exporter supplies the origin, COA, MRL and export documents that registration and customs depend on. Classify correctly under HS 0902, confirm the duty and any JTEPA preference with a broker, get the COA and origin papers commissioned early, and evaluate every exporter against the same neutral checklist. JMEX supports Thai buyers across the Japan half of exactly these steps, from origin and grade design to certification and export documentation.

Looking for wholesale or OEM matcha samples? Contact us — we will recommend the optimal origin and grade based on your application and target markets.

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