Tokyos: China bans Japan food imports over Fukushima water release

BeijingChina’s customs authorities said on Friday that they will ban food imports from 10 Japanese prefectures because of Tokyo’s plan to release treated sewage into the ocean. Japan’s planned decades-long discharge of accumulated waters from the afflicted Fukushima The International Atomic Energy Agency has approved a nuclear facility that meets global standards.
Release is expected to begin this summer, but some regional neighbors oppose it, with Beijing strongly condemning the plan, as well as some in Fukushima, particularly fishing communities who fear customers will shun their catch. China’s foreign ministry said Thursday that the IAEA report cannot be used as a “green light” for the water drainage plan and warned of unknown risks to human health. Chinese customs authorities said on Friday that they would “ban food imports from 10 Japanese prefectures including Fukushima” over safety concerns, and would conduct strict radiation tests on food from the rest of Japan.
About 1.33 million cubic meters of groundwater, rainwater and water used for cooling accumulated at the Fukushima site, which was shut down after several reactors collapsed following the 2011 tsunami that severely damaged the plant.