Please describe the inspections required when importing agricultural machinery?

There is no compulsory inspection when importing agricultural machinery. However, to contribute to the introduction of superior quality agricultural machinery, Japan has established a voluntary inspection system under its Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Law. Under this system, types of agricultural machinery and tools regardless of whether they are imported or domestically produced, are inspected.

(Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Law)

1. Type inspections are implement for 10 types of agricultural machines, such as agricultural tractor (riding type) (determined every fiscal year by the Minculture, Fister of Agriorestry and Fisheries) are inspected, at National Agriculture and Bio-oriented Research Organization, on performance, construction (including safety), durability, and ease of operation of types of agricultural machinery and equipmentI (performance test was added for the exhaust gas from engine running on public roads such as agricultural tractor (riding type) since 2005 fiscal year ), submitted by the party requesting the inspection with reference to the main methods and standards set for type inspections and a judgment as to pass or not.

2. When having agricultural tractors (riding types ) and safety cabs and frames for agricultural tractors (riding type) inspected, OECD test data may be accepted where possible for models already by the OECD so as to lighten the burden on the party requesting inspection. Furthermore, data on already inspected models may be accepted when the models to be inspected has a similar construction as the previously inspected models so as to lighten the burden on the party requesting inspection.