China Revises Ban on Japanese Seafood amid Water Review

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    BEIJING — China has once again opened its doors to Japanese seafood imports, ending a near two-year ban that was put in place following the release of minimally radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which suffered immense damage from a tsunami.
    The suspension, previously enacted in August 2023, had significantly impacted Japan’s seafood industry, particularly affecting scallop and sea cucumber producers. As China was Japan’s largest international market for seafood, the lifting of the ban is seen as a positive development amidst efforts by both nations to enhance diplomatic relations amid economic uncertainties heightened by U.S. tariffs.
    “This marks a substantial shift for Japan, which regards seafood as a key export commodity,” expressed Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.
    The Fukushima nuclear facility was crippled by the 2011 tsunami that followed a powerful offshore quake, leading to ongoing water management challenges. Continued efforts are made to cool the nuclear fuel through water pumping, followed by containment within an expanding array of storage tanks on-site.
    Following extended deliberations, authorities allowed the gradual release of this water into the ocean after treatment to eliminate most radioactive elements and subsequent dilution with seawater. Japan reassured that the processed water exceeds international safety standards and poses minimal environmental risk.
    Despite Japan’s assurances, China initially resisted, enacting the ban due to concerns over potential hazards to its fishing industry and coastal areas. Through diplomatic negotiations, Japan agreed to permit China to conduct water sample tests, which reportedly revealed no irregularities.
    Though disapproval persists concerning the water discharge, China has decided to allow conditional seafood imports based on scientific assessments, clarified Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. The ban persists for seafood originating from 10 Japanese prefectures, among them Fukushima.
    Going forward, Japanese seafood exporters must navigate re-registration processes in China, alongside the necessity to provide comprehensive documentation, including health certificates and evidence of compliance with radioactivity standards, as outlined by the Chinese customs authority.
    According to spokesperson Kazuhiko Aoki of the Japanese government, gradual resumption of shipments to China is anticipated due in part to the mandatory re-registration aspect, which exporters must accommodate.
    While it remains uncertain how quickly these exporters, who sought alternative international markets following the ban, will pivot back to China, there is optimism that sales of sea cucumbers, a valued delicacy in China, will eventually rebound.
    Aoki emphasized Japan’s ongoing negotiations to lift the ban affecting seafood from the remaining 10 prefectures.