Fukushima: Stop Food Imports to China from Japan

Seoul also raised alarm after Tokyo’s decision to discharge treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

China has announced a total ban on food imports from 10 Japanese prefectures over Tokyo’s plan to discharge treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

According to Chinese customs officials, in addition to a strict import ban, Chinese specialists will also “screen” the documents for food, especially seafood, from other regions of Japan.

Besides China, the biggest buyer of fish products from Japan, South Korea, has also expressed confusion and concern over Japan’s decision. According to the Seoul authorities, “all fish imported into South Korea from July to October 2023 will be subject to unprecedented scrutiny, to avoid harming the health of citizens.”

Despite fierce protests from the international community, the discharge plan was approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as it was deemed “corresponding to safety and global standards.” The CEO of IAEA, Italian Rafael Grossi, traveled to Japan to personally submit a report to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, according to which “the discharge of treated water will have an insignificant radiological impact on people and the environment,” thus giving authority to Japan’s final decision on this project.

China’s foreign ministry said the IAEA report could not be used as a “green light” for the water discharge plan and warned of unknown risks for human health.