JAL starts selling wagyu beef to passengers flying to U.S., Singapore

Japan Airlines Co launched a service on Monday to sell Japanese luxury wagyu beef to passengers traveling to the United States and Singapore and have it inspected for customs clearance.

Not a bad deal. It will go well with my new brown rice.

Unless you want a particular high end brand label, you can find both umeboshi and mentaiko in many Japanese (sometimes Asian) grocery stores in the US and Canada.

Chico3Today  03:02 pm JST

As long as Japan Airlines (or any other airline) doing this has included some kind of approved certification with the meat, I'm sure that neither country will have any beef with that. Unfortunately, the article doesn't mention that.

It does.

"Japan Airlines Co launched a service on Monday to sell Japanese luxury wagyu beef to passengers traveling to the United States and Singapore and have it inspected for customs clearance."

Great idea!

They should also start selling grade A fukushima seafood

Chico3Today  03:41 pm JST

I've brought umeboshi, mentaiko, etc into the US and Canada. No problem at all as it was vacuum-packed (shinku-paku).

That's great to know, since my oldest daughter, who is living in the US, loves mentaiko. I guess you just get it at the airport.

You can but it may be a little expensive. A lot of regular stores will have products already vacuum packed for travelling and they'll be cheaper.

I've brought umeboshi, mentaiko, etc into the US and Canada. No problem at all as it was vacuum-packed (shinku-paku).

That's great to know, since my oldest daughter, who is living in the US, loves mentaiko. I guess you just get it at the airport.

If it's packaged properly, it will be fine for customs, especially Japanese beef. It's JAL. They know how to package for customs. But the custom 'experts' here know better.

I've brought umeboshi, mentaiko, etc into the US and Canada. No problem at all as it was vacuum-packed (shinku-paku).

As long as Japan Airlines (or any other airline) doing this has included some kind of approved certification with the meat, I'm sure that neither country will have any beef with that. Unfortunately, the article doesn't mention that.

Yep, likely to be confiscated at customs. Someone hasn't thought this through.

Sure, the professional did not think about it, luckily they have you to help them. You should call them right now and teach them how to do their job properly.

I have brought meat products from the USA into Japan. Although asked to step to a separate table, the inspector verified the USDA label and let it go through immediately.

I don't know if any reciprocal arrangements exist with the JMGA (Japan Meat Grading Association) whose function is similar to the USDA.

In either case, the article clearly states that JAL will have the meat inspected for customs. People really need to actually read the article before hitting the keyboard.

You can buy 1 kg of wagyu beef for ¥10,000.

https://www.kingmeat.net/c/howto/kobe-akami-block?gad_source=4

But probably cannot take it into the US.

30,000JPY for 1 kilo of meat?? Funniest think I've read this week. :))

That's an unique brilliant idea.

Risky isn’t it? An over zealot customs agent and it gets you a fine and it’s thrown out. Heck in Narita you can’t even transfer with duty free liquids inside the customs bags so I don’t think they will be able to guarantee USA or Singapore compliance. So risky.

Did you read the article?

Japan Airlines Co launched a service on Monday to sell Japanese luxury wagyu beef to passengers traveling to the United States and Singapore and have it inspected for customs clearance.

They are saying it will be cleared. I imagine if you get the beef from anywhere else it won't be certified and then would be risky, this way you can probably make a claim against JAL if it does happen to get seized.

If I can ever afford 30,000 (2024 yen) a kilo meat, I won't be bothered about getting it 20% cheaper several hours away from home.

Any type of meat product (without inspection) carried to Japan,if found will be confiscated by customs.

Don’t the Japanese think that the same will happen for passengers departing from Japan?

Many people are going to be fined and have that high class ridiculously expensive beef seized!

Yep, likely to be confiscated at customs. Someone hasn't thought this through.

Risky isn’t it? An over zealot customs agent and it gets you a fine and it’s thrown out. Heck in Narita you can’t even transfer with duty free liquids inside the customs bags so I don’t think they will be able to guarantee USA or Singapore compliance. So risky.