China has decided to conditionally resume imports of aquatic products from certain regions of Japan, China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) announced on Sunday.
The decision follows continued long-term international monitoring of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge, as well as China’s independent sampling and monitoring, which found no abnormal results. In addition, the Japanese government has committed to ensuring the quality and safety of aquatic products exported to China. Based on these conditions – and in line with China’s food safety laws and regulations, as well as relevant World Trade Organization principles – China made the decision to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.
I. According to the GAC, imports of some aquatic products from Japan will be resumed from Sunday, except from the following 10 prefectures: Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama, Tokyo, and Chiba.
II. Japanese aquatic product exporters to China shall comply with China’s regulations on the registration of overseas food production enterprises for import. Suspended aquatic product producers must reapply for registration in China. Only products manufactured after obtaining registration approval will be permitted for export to China. For edible aquatic animals, their breeding and packaging enterprises shall also reapply for registration in China, and export trade may resume only after completing registration.
III. When importing Japanese aquatic products, a sanitary certificate issued by Japanese authorities, a certificate confirming compliance with radioactive substance testing, and a certificate of origin shall be submitted.
IV. Customs will enforce stringent supervision over Japanese aquatic products imported to China. If products are found non-compliant with China’s laws, regulations, or food safety standards, or if Japan fails to effectively fulfill its official regulatory responsibilities, control measures will be promptly implemented to safeguard public health and safety of Chinese people.
Announcement No. 103 of 2023 by China’s General Administration of Customs is hereby repealed.
China to conditionally resume imports of aquatic products from some regions of Japan
