China Lifts Japan's Seafood Import Ban Implemented In 2023
JAKARTA - Chinese authorities on Sunday lifted the ban on Japanese seafood imports imposed in August 2023, after the disposal of radioactive wastewater processed from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.
Neighboring countries in Asia agreed to resume imports of seafood in May, but it may take several months until delivery is completed following the completion of procedural measures.
The move seems to reflect China's interest in improving relations with Japan as the country engages in a trade war with the United States.
China's customs authority said in a public notice that China's long-term international monitoring of water disposal and independent sampling "does not show any abnormalities."
With the Japanese Government's explanation of its commitment to ensuring the quality and safety of seafood exports to China, Beijing has decided to "go ahead conditionally" imports, the authority said, according to Kyodo News on June 30.
Chinese authorities announced a comprehensive ban on imports of all Japanese marine products, as Japan began dismantling radioactive wastewater processed from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea on August 24, 2023, quoted by Reuters.
Japan signed a disposal plan in 2022 and received a green light from the United Nations nuclear watchdog (IAEA) in July 2023.
However, China will continue to impose food import restrictions from 10 Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima and Tokyo, which were imposed after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered a nuclear disaster.
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To continue the export of seafood to China, Japanese facilities that process and preserve marine products must be registered, while these products must pass the radiation check.
In September last year, the two governments agreed to gradually continue trading seafood on condition that third-party countries monitor the release of water from nuclear plants.
After the agreement, China collected marine samples near the Fukushima plant under the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).