Health

China to Resume Japanese Seafood Imports After Fukushima Ban

Published MAY 31 2025

Story

Above: A field managed by ReFruits Co., a company hoping to revitalise agriculture in the area by growing kiwi fruit, some five kilometres (three miles) from the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant in the town of Okuma. Image credit: Richard A. Brooks/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

China and Japan have reached an agreement to resume seafood imports that were banned in August 2023 following Japan's release of treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, according to a Japanese minister. Though China said "substantial progress" was made, it stopped short of confirming the deal.
EuroNews
Dw.Com
Breitbart
The agreement requires Japanese fish processing facilities to register with Chinese authorities and provide inspection certificates guaranteeing that the seafood has been checked for radioactive materials, such as cesium-137, before export.
Los Angeles Times
EuroNews
Al Jazeera
China's ban on agricultural and marine products from 10 Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, will remain in place; however, exports from 37 other prefectures will be allowed once the necessary procedures are completed.
The Japan Times
Kyodo News+
Breitbart
The agreement follows three rounds of technical talks between Tokyo and Beijing since March, during which China participated in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) water sampling missions that found no abnormalities.
Kyodo News+
NHK
Fox 59
Japan's government established emergency relief funds for affected exporters, particularly scallop growers, as it sought alternative overseas markets during the ban period.
Fox 59
Japan Today
Mainland China was previously the largest overseas market for Japanese seafood, accounting for more than one-fifth of its exports.
Fox 59
Japan Today

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The release of treated wastewater is essential for the nuclear plant's decommissioning process and ensures compliance with international safety standards. The water is heavily diluted with seawater to reduce radioactivity well below international standards, making its environmental impact negligible. The IAEA's monitoring data confirms the safety of this approach.

Science Media Centre

Narrative B

The discharge of nuclear-contaminated water poses significant risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Despite treatment processes, the water still contains radioactive substances that could accumulate in the food chain and potentially harm human health. The long-term environmental impact remains uncertain.