China has announced it will conditionally resume imports of Japanese seafood from certain regions, starting Sunday.
The move comes after extensive monitoring showed no issues with Japan’s release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. China’s customs authorities have decided that, with safety assurances in place, some Japanese seafood can return to Chinese markets.
Which Regions Are Included?
China will resume imports from most regions of Japan, but seafood from the following 10 prefectures will still be prohibited:
Fukushima
Gunma
Tochigi
Ibaraki
Miyagi
Niigata
Nagano
Saitama
Tokyo
Chiba
These areas are still under restrictions due to concerns over potential contamination from the Fukushima incident.
Safety First
Japanese seafood exporters must comply with China’s regulations, including reapplying for registration with Chinese authorities. Only products from approved producers will be allowed into China. Additionally, all imports must be accompanied by:
A sanitary certificate from Japanese authorities
A certificate confirming compliance with radioactive substance testing
A certificate of origin
Strict Supervision
China will enforce strict supervision over all imported Japanese seafood. If any products fail to meet China’s food safety standards, or if Japan doesn’t uphold its regulatory responsibilities, China will take immediate action to protect public health.
Moving Forward
This decision reflects a cautious step towards normalizing trade between the two countries. It revokes the earlier ban and opens the door for safe and regulated seafood imports from Japan.
