Partial Ban Remains in Place
According to a notice issued by China Customs, imports of seafood from ten Japanese prefectures—including Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama, Tokyo, and Chiba—will remain strictly prohibited.
Seafood products from other regions in Japan will now be permitted to enter China, but under stringent conditions. Exporters will be required to provide health certificates, radioactive substance detection qualification certificates, and production area certificates issued by the Japanese government when declaring shipments to Chinese customs.
Decision Follows Long-Term Testing
Chinese authorities explained that the partial reopening follows extensive international and domestic monitoring. The customs statement noted that no abnormalities had been detected in long-term sampling and testing of the treated wastewater discharged from Fukushima.
The move signals a shift in Beijing’s stance after it imposed a complete ban on all Japanese seafood imports in August 2023. That ban came shortly after Tokyo began releasing treated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear facility—a decision that had sparked both diplomatic tension and economic fallout between the two countries.
Strict Oversight to Continue
Despite easing restrictions for some regions, China emphasized it will maintain rigorous supervision of Japanese seafood imports. The notice underscored that customs authorities will continue to enforce relevant Chinese laws, regulations, and food safety standards strictly.
China also warned that it reserves the right to implement further measures if any violations are detected in future inspections.
Sunday’s announcement is being closely watched by exporters and trade officials, as it represents a cautious step toward normalizing seafood trade between Asia’s two largest economies while still reflecting Beijing’s continued concerns over food safety and environmental risks.