China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) announced on Friday a ban on imports of food from ten prefectures in Japan, including Fukushima. The decision comes as Japan prepares to dump nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the sea, a move that has raised global concerns and sparked worries among Chinese consumers about the safety of imported Japanese food.
The GACC stated that the ban aims to prevent the import of Japanese food contaminated with radioactive substances and safeguard the safety of Chinese consumers. Strict examination and absolute inspection will be implemented for food products, especially aquatic products, from other regions in Japan. Chinese customs will strengthen the detection and monitoring of radioactive substances to ensure the safety of Japanese food imports and prevent any risky products from entering China.
The GACC criticized the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Japan’s plan to dump contaminated water, stating that it failed to fully reflect the opinions of all experts involved and did not receive unanimous recognition from all parties. The GACC highlighted concerns about the legitimacy of Japan’s dumping plan, the reliability of purification equipment, and the completeness of the monitoring plan.
China’s customs authorities pledged to remain highly vigilant and take necessary measures in a timely manner to ensure the food safety of Chinese consumers. Since the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, Chinese customs has closely monitored measures taken by the Japanese government and continues to assess and respond to the risk of radioactive contamination in Japanese food.
A survey conducted by the Global Times Research Center revealed that over 80% of respondents in 11 Asia-Pacific countries, excluding Japan, consider Japan’s plan to dump nuclear-contaminated water into the sea as “irresponsible.” Nearly 90% expressed negative sentiments toward the plan, with 94% believing it will have a negative effect not only on Japan and Pacific Rim countries but also on the entire world.