EU Removes Import Restrictions on Japanese Food
11:20 JST, August 3, 2023
London (Jiji Press) — The European Union on Thursday removed its import restrictions on Japanese food that had been in place since a nuclear accident in Fukushima Prefecture in 2011.
The removal will send a symbolic message to countries that have still been restricting imports of Japanese food since the March 2011 triple meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Japanese officials said.
Starting with shipments arriving in the EU on Thursday, it will no longer be necessary to attach certificates of radiation checks and those of origin to wild mushrooms and some marine products from Japan.
Following the nuclear accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. plant, 55 countries and regions introduced import restrictions on Japanese food. The EU’s removal reduced the number to 11, including China and South Korea.
Switzerland, a member of the European Free Trade Association, plans to abolish its restrictions on Aug. 15, and Iceland and Norway, also EFTA members, are expected to follow suit.
Japan faces challenges getting China and South Korea to lift their import restrictions as they oppose Tokyo’s plan to release treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean.
China and Hong Kong have toughened their restrictions, though the International Atomic Energy Agency released a report last month concluding that the water release plan is consistent with international safety standards.
South Korea has shown signs of easing its rhetoric. Seoul last month said that its own analysis has found that the concentration of radioactive materials in the treated water meets international standards.
"Business" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
China Struggles to Develop Passenger Jet to Rival Boeing, Airbus; Russian Cooperation Falls
-
JR East Eyes Freight-Only Cars for Shinkasen Trains as Japan Logistics Industry Suffers from Labor Shortage
-
JR East Employee in His 70s Earns Doctorate on Safe Train Operations; Believes Accidents Caused by Human Error Can Be Reduced
-
Japanese Cosmetics Firms Competing with South Korean Brands over Inexpensive Products; South Korean Brands Dominating Market Through Social Media
-
Japanese Automakers Team Up on Software Development; Aim to Compete with U.S., China in SDV Market
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Harris Widens Lead over Trump to 47%-40%, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds
- Japan-S. Korea Exchange Festival Held in Seoul
- Japan Trying to Draw Digital Nomads, Who Are Seen as Beneficial to Economy, Society
- JICA Employee Suspected of Leaking Info on ODA Project in Manila; Bidding for Railway Renovation May Have Been Impacted
- Asukayama Monorail in Tokyo: Free to Ride!