China suspended imports of all seafood from Japan after discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater

 

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China suspended the import of all edible aquatic products originating from Japan, effective immediately, after the latter started to discharge nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean, the General Administration of Customs of China announced on Thursday.

The Japanese government on Thursday started the discharge of contaminated water despite strong international doubts and opposition.

China is “highly concerned about the risk of radioactive contamination brought by… Japan’s food and agricultural products,” the customs administration said in a statement.

“We will continue to pay attention to the situation of the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea in japan, and adjust relevant regulatory measures,” it added.

Earlier on the day, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that China expressed its firm opposition and vigorous condemnation, and lodged solemn representations with Japan, requesting the latter to stop this wrongdoing.

The Japanese government has neglected the strong doubts and objections from the international community and unilaterally initiated the discharge, the ministry said.

Hong Kong and Macao will also suspend the import of seafood products originating from the Japanese prefectures of Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, and Saitama from Thursday.

Macao’s ban also includes vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy products, meat and animal derivatives, poultry, and eggs from the above regions.

Japan exported about $600 million worth of aquatic products to China in 2022, making it the biggest market for Japanese exports, with Hong Kong second. Sales to China and Hong Kong accounted for 42% of all Japanese aquatic exports in 2022, according to government data.