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China Lifts Ban on Seafood Imports from 10 Japanese Prefectures
After nearly two years, China has announced it will resume imports of aquatic products from 10 Japanese prefectures. The ban was initially imposed in response to Japan’s release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
China’s General Administration of Customs cited “no abnormalities” detected in long-term international monitoring and its own independent testing as the reason for the change. The agency emphasized that the decision adheres to domestic food safety regulations and international trade principles.
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station suffered catastrophic damage from an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Over 1.3 million metric tons of contaminated water accumulated at the site and was stored in tanks until Japan began a controlled release in late 2023. The water is treated to remove most radioactive elements and diluted with seawater before release, a plan endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
At the time, China condemned Japan’s actions as “selfish and irresponsible.” The recent announcement by Chinese customs officials indicates the resumption of imports hinges on Japan maintaining the safety and quality of its seafood exports. The 10 prefectures now cleared for export include Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama, Tokyo and Chiba.
However, Hong Kong has stated it will maintain its existing ban on Japanese seafood imports, citing the unprecedented scale and duration of the Fukushima water release as cause for continued caution. Hong Kong officials said they will announce any policy changes publicly.