5th Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (March 17, 1998)

7-(7) Increase the number of import cargo inspection personnel

1. Complainant: Tokyo Chamber of Commerce

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of Finance

3. Complaint:

Compared with the volume of cargo imports via international mail, there is a shortage of inspection personnel, overall. Even for imports made with the purpose of quick selling, because of the inspection, it can take four or five extra days for the products to reach a company, resulting in a loss of sales time. Plans should be made to increase the number of personnel for inspecting imported cargo at customs offices.

4. Corresponding Policy of the Ministries concerned:

In recent years, the volume of international mail has increased, but customs inspections are basically completed on the day that an item is received from a postal service office.

5. Remarks
The complainant's opinion is as follows.
"I understand that this is the policy as it now stands."