TOKYO, Sept 20 (Askume) – Japan and China are making final preparations to resume imports of Japanese seafood and other seafood after stepped up regulatory monitoring of radioactive waters, public broadcaster NHK reported on Friday.
China banned purchases of seafood originating in Japan, citing the risk of radioactive contamination, after Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501.T) began releasing treated water from the failed Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean last year.
Japan insists that releasing the water is safe, noting that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also concluded that the impact on humans and the environment would be “negligible”.
Japan has decided to expand the scope of monitoring in light of China’s continued sanctions, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to agree to the plan during a conference call with International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi on Friday, NHK reported.
According to reports, Tokyo has informed Beijing of these plans and is making final preparations to resume exports.
Before the ban, China was the largest market for Japanese seafood exports.
Affected by China’s ban, Japan’s exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products declined for the first time since 2020 in the first half of 2024.
