China partially resumes aquatic imports from Japan

China’s General Administration of Customs announced on Sunday (June 29) that it will resume the import of certain aquatic products from Japan, excluding 10 prefectures. Among the excluded prefectures are Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, and Ibaraki. The decision comes after long-term international monitoring and independent sampling by Chinese authorities regarding the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Both international monitors and Chinese experts did not find abnormalities provoked by the discharge.
Chinese authorities remarked that the resumption of imports from Japan is based on the pledge made by the Tokyo government about the safety of its aquatic products. Japanese exporters to China must comply with relevant Chinese regulations and accompany their products with an official health certificate issued by Japanese authorities. The General Administration of Customs warned that if Japan does not fulfil its regulatory responsibilities, China will enforce control measures again to safeguard the health and safety of its citizens.