China To Ban Japanese Seafood Due To Fukushima Water Release Plan

After Tokyo begins discharging treated radioactive water from the nuclear plant into the sea, Chinese authorities threatened to take all necessary actions, including extending a ban on seafood from ten Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima and the capital Tokyo.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog gave Japan permission this week to begin releasing more than a million metric tonnes of water, enough to fill 500 Olympic swimming pools, used to cool the plant’s fuel rods after it was destroyed by a tsunami in 2011.

China is concerned about lingering nuclear pollution.

The General Administration of Customs stated that the plan to dump water from the 2011 nuclear disaster failed to fully reflect expert opinions and that it will take all necessary measures to protect Chinese consumers’ safety.

“Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, China’s customs has prioritized the issue of radioactive contamination of Japanese food imported into the country. It has closely observed the Japanese government’s necessary steps, has continued to analyze the risk, and has responded promptly”, the customs agency said on Friday.

Scallops, as well as Japanese sake, are popular in the Chinese market.

It was the biggest buyer of Japanese seafood exports last year, despite being one of several nations that have restricted imports from some Japanese regions due to the nuclear catastrophe.