China partially lifts Japan seafood ban but Fukushima import block remains

China has partially lifted its two-year ban on Japanese seafood imports in the latest step by Beijing to remove a diplomatic roadblock that has strained ties between the two neighbours.

According to a Chinese customs notice issued on Sunday, shipments of seafood originating from “certain regions” of Japan would resume “conditionally” with immediate effect.

The decision was made “under the premise of ongoing long-term international monitoring and independent Chinese sampling of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water discharge with no abnormalities found, and Japan’s commitment to ensuring the quality and safety of aquatic products exported to China”, the notice said.

The measure, which covers imports of aquatic products including edible aquatic animals, will not apply to 10 Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama, Tokyo and Chiba.

Beijing suspended food imports from those areas in July 2023 – before Japan began releasing treated waste water from its damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, despite strong opposition from Chinese authorities.

Beijing extended the prohibition about one month later, imposing a full import ban on all Japanese seafood.