Taiwanese authorities have declared plans to remove all remaining import restrictions on Japanese food products that were imposed following the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
On Sunday, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed its intention to eliminate the specific import controls on food products from five Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima. The agency indicated that these restrictions could be lifted by year’s end, following the conclusion of a 60-day public consultation period.
Officials from Taiwan’s health ministry stated on Monday that food products from the five prefectures—Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Chiba—will no longer need to include test results for radioactive substances. They also noted that Japanese food imports will no longer be required to provide certificates of origin.
Although the ban was partially eased in 2022 and again last year, certain high-risk food items continued to be prohibited. Imports from the affected areas required two documents, a certificate of origin and a radiation inspection certificate, and were subject to batch-by-batch inspections upon arrival.
FDA Director-General Chiang Chih-kang reported that between February 2022 and September of last year, 21,717 batches of food imports from the five Japanese prefectures underwent radiation testing. Over the past 14 years, more than 263,000 batches have been examined, and none have failed to meet either Taiwanese or Japanese safety standards. As a result, the risk is considered ‘negligible.’
Out of the 53 countries and regions that imposed restrictions on Japanese food imports over safety concerns, 49 have now fully lifted the measures. If Taiwan removes its current restrictions following the 60-day public comment period, Japanese food products would be treated like other imports, subject only to random border checks and routine inspections within the domestic market.
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