Among the plants subject to import inspection, seeds and nursery stocks are examined more meticulously than others for the detection of quarantine pests because they are brought straight into domestic farms for agricultural production. In addition to the point-of-entry inspection, flower bulbs, tree fruit nursery stocks (scions and rootstocks), potato and sweet potato, etc. are grown in national quarantine farms and scrutinized for the period of about one year. Elaborate indexing for virus and viruslike diseases is made by using inoculation tests, serological techniques and electron microscopy, etc. See Post-entry Quarantine for more details.

For a certain quarantine pests which are technically difficult to detect at the point-of-entry inspection, host plants are required to undergo growing site inspection in exporting countries. These plants are primarily those intended for planting or being capable of planting for cultivation. They cannot be imported unless they are inspected in the field during the growing period and shipped with due certification to testify that they are free from the designated quarantine pests.
For further information, see Growing site inspection in exporting countries.
For the specific plants and countries (regions) subject to this requirement, refer to Plant Protection Law Enforcement Regulation Annexed Table 1-2.

Import inspection is conducted at the point of entry for quarantine pests and soil. If necessary, closer inspection is further made for nematodes and microbial pests. Many kinds of tree fruit nursery stocks must undergo post-entry quarantine procedure. See Post-entry Quarantine for details.

Method of import inspection is similar with that of nursery stocks. Most flower bulbs such as tulip, lily, etc. are subjected to post-entry quarantine for inspection of virus and viruslike diseases. SeePost-entry Quarantine for details. However, flower bulbs from some countries (i.e. the Netherlands, New Zealand and Belgium) can be imported under an alternative system in which post-entry quarantine in Japan is eliminated. For details, refer to Flower bulb import system alternative to post-entry quarantine for details.

Virus infection of plants cannot be precisely detected by the ordinary import inspection. A certain designated plants are accommodated into post-entry quarantine farms of the Plant Protection Station and thoroughly inspected by using elaborate detection techniques such as inoculation tests, serological diagnosis, electron microscopy, etc. With the prior approval of the Plant Protection Station, imported flower bulbs can undergo post-entry quarantine at importer's farms under isolated conditions. For flower bulbs, there is a pre-clearance system available which suffices for the post-entry quarantine in Japan. Refer to Flower bulb import system alternative to post-entry quarantine for details. Post-entry quarantine is applied to the following plants.

1. Bulbous plants such as lily, tulip, hyacinth, etc.
2. Potato and sweet potato
3. Tree fruit nursery stocks (including scions) such as citrus, apple, pear, grape, etc.
4. Seedlings and scions of strawberry, sugarcane and pineapple

Subject plants of post-entry quarantine will be released to importers when they are determined free of quarantine pests by a series of inspections carried out during the growing period. Importers are required to present 'Import Plan' prior to the application for import inspection.

Plants, as a rule, are not admissible if they are liable to a high risk of infection with quarantine pests which cannot be technically detected at the port-of-entry inspection. When the pests can be easily detected in the field during the growth season, importation can be approved under the condition that the plants concerned be inspected at growing site in exporting countries. The plants subject to this restriction are those intended for planting or being capable of planting for cultivation. For the regulated plants, countries (regions) and specific pests, refer to Plant Protection Law Enforcement Regulation Annexed Table 1-2.

Export shipment must be accompanied with phytosanitary certificate issued by exporting country stating that they have been inspected at growing site in conformity with Japanese requirements and, additionally, found free of the specific quarantine pests. Lack or incomplete documentation of additional declaration may result in rejection, destruction or reshipment of the shipment concerned.

'Official Certificate of Inspection' is issued to the shipment which has passed the import inspection. When the shipment is disqualified for entry, necessary measures such as disinfection treatment, destruction or reshipment will be ordered depending on the results of inspection.

'Grains' involve rice, wheat, maize, soybean, buckwheat, canola, pelletized hay, etc.

'Official Certificate of Inspection' is issued to the shipment which has passed the import inspection. When the shipment is disqualified for entry, necessary measures such as disinfection treatment, destruction or reshipment will be ordered depending on the results of inspection.

Grains contaminated with ergots or sclerotia can be processed at the approved factories to suffice for disinfection treatment.

'Official Certificate of Inspection' is issued to the shipment which has passed the import inspection. When the shipment is disqualified for entry, because of infestation with quarantine pests, disinfestation of total consignment or sorting measures are undertaken depending on the results of inspection. Fumigation treatment of the total shipment prior to import inspection may be approved upon the request of importer.