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Fountain Pen Inks
Fountain pens are a great hobby, and Japan has one of the best markets for them.
Importing pens is straightforward. But inks can be different.
Lunarcat is one of the only proxy services in Japan that properly handles fountain pen inks.
Ink Types
Fountain pen inks fall into two categories: water-based and alcohol-based.
Each has different shipping requirements, and it matters which one you are buying.
Water-Based Inks
Almost all fountain pen inks are water-based.
Inks are classified as chemicals, so some countries have import regulations.
Especially, customers in United States must be aware of TSCA.
United States
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulates the import of chemical substances.
A TSCA Certification is required to import water-based inks into the US. This is a declaration that your ink does not contain any substances prohibited under the TSCA.
Without this certification, US customs will not clear your parcel.
If the certification is not submitted within a certain period, the parcel will be returned to the shipper.
For inks purchased through our service, we will contact you to fill the TSCA certification before shipping.
You can fill the form yourself, or leave it to us for a fee (¥3,000).
If you are into this hobby, we strongly encourage you to do it yourself. The form is not difficult to fill.
Other Countries
No special forms are required. Water-based inks ship without issue to most destinations.
Alcohol-Based Inks
We are not sure whether an alcohol-based fountain pen ink even exists.
However, let’s talk about general stationary for your information.
Alcohol-based inks are flammable and cannot be shipped with Japan Post.
While it is possible to ship flammable products with private couriers (FedEx), they require a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and will determine whether the item can be shipped based on the SDS.
An SDS is a document that lists the chemical composition and safety information of a product.
Couriers will not accept flammable items without one.
SDS Availability
SDS documents contain the chemical composition of the ink, so manufacturers often keep them confidential.
Some manufacturers provide SDS for their products. Some do not.
If you are purchasing a product containing alcohol-based ink, always confirm with the manufacturer that an SDS can be obtained before placing your order.
Alcohol-based inks without an SDS cannot be shipped internationally. There are no exceptions.
About Us
There are many proxy services in Japan, but most do not handle categories that require compliance or proper documentation.
Fountain pen inks falls in one of those tricky categories.
We have professional knowledge on the import/export for fountain pens.
Leave your order to us, and we will deal with everything that is required for your seamless import experience.