China will resume Japanese seafood imports, which were banned in 2023 due to concerns over Japan’s release of treated wastewater containing low levels of radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. A Japanese official said on Friday.
Japan Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated that Japanese and Chinese officials reached an agreement during the meeting in Beijing, and seafood imports will resume once the required paperwork is completed. “Seafood is an important export item for Japan, and a resumption of its export to China is a major milestone,” Koizumi added.
China’s General Administration of Customs reported that both sides conducted another round of technical discussions on the safety of Japanese aquatic products on Thursday, making ‘substantial progress,’ though no agreement was mentioned.
Meanwhile, China’s restrictions on agricultural and seafood products from 10 Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, remain in effect, with ongoing efforts to lift them. The ban was imposed due to concerns that the wastewater release could harm eastern China’s coastal communities and fishing industry.
Japanese officials assert that the treated wastewater meets safety standards, exceeding international benchmarks, with minimal environmental impact. They emphasize that its release is necessary to facilitate the decommissioning of the nuclear plant and prevent unintended leaks.
Since March, Tokyo and Beijing have engaged in three rounds of discussions on the matter, ultimately reaching an agreement on Wednesday regarding the ‘technical requirements’ essential for resuming Japanese seafood exports to China. However, Japan’s Foreign Ministry did not specify a timeline for when exports will actually restart.
Mainland China was once the largest international buyer of Japanese seafood, accounting for over 20% of Japan’s seafood exports. While the ban dealt a major setback to the fisheries industry, its overall impact on trade remained limited, as seafood exports represent only a small portion of Japan’s total exports.
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