China to Gradually Lift Ban on Japanese Seafood Imports

On September 20th, officials announced that China will begin to ease its import ban on Japanese seafood, addressing concerns over the monitoring of treated wastewater released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

China reached an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to permit Chinese officials to oversee the monitoring of treated water that is discharged into the ocean from the Fukushima plant. The facility suffered reactor damage during a devastating magnitude 9.1 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning explained that while China stands firmly against Japan’s “unilateral starting of the ocean discharge,” the blanket ban on imported Japanese seafood will not be lifted immediately. The lifting process will unfold gradually as Chinese officials initiate additional monitoring measures.

In August of the previous year, Japan announced it would begin a systematic release of treated radioactive wastewater collected from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

The same day that Japan announced its plans for wastewater release, Chinese officials imposed a total ban on the import of Japanese seafood, despite assurances that the treated water posed no threat to health.

Statistics show that in September of that year, Japanese seafood imports to China plummeted by 67.6% year over year.

Japanese officials have consistently argued that discharging the wastewater into the ocean does not threaten seafood safety. On the Friday in question, Japan agreed to permit China to conduct further monitoring of the discharged water, under the supervision of IAEA representatives.

“China has started to adjust its import restrictions and will gradually resume imports of Japanese seafood that meets safety standards,” stated Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a news conference on Friday.

Kishida reiterated Japan’s stance that the restrictions should be lifted without delay and expressed commitment to working towards their complete removal.

He also mentioned that China, along with other regional countries, is expected to participate in the additional monitoring efforts.