Diplomatic tension eases as China partially lifts its ban on Japanese seafood imports.
Following a years-long diplomatic effort, China has begun to gradually resume seafood imports from Japan, offering a critical economic lifeline for affected shellfish and fishery businesses in the latter. The resumption of trade, however, is being balanced with ongoing safety vigilance regarding the imported seafood.
The General Administration of Customs (GACC) of China conditionally lifted the ban on seafood imports from most Japanese regions in June 2025, recognising sustained monitoring results that showed no abnormal radioactive contamination and new safety guarantees from Japan. However, the ban remains fully in place for seafood originating from 10 key prefectures, including Fukushima and Tokyo, due to their proximity or relation to the Fukushima nuclear plant and the ongoing cautious approach regarding them.
Exporters from other Japanese regions must re-register with Chinese authorities, and only products from registered producers, after approval, are cleared for export. Import declarations must include a sanitary certificate, a radioactive material inspection pass certificate, and a production area certificate issued by Japanese authorities to assure compliance with food safety standards.
China's regulations emphasise adherence to national food safety standards and require Japanese authorities to demonstrate effective regulatory oversight. Notably, Hong Kong maintains a stricter stance by continuing to ban seafood imports from these same 10 prefectures.
The continued ban on the 10 prefectures suggests China is taking a cautious, phased approach—allowing imports from other regions while maintaining restrictions where risk is perceived to be higher. Ongoing monitoring, both internationally and by Chinese authorities, will likely inform future adjustments to these restrictions. If no abnormal radiation is found in seafood from the banned prefectures over time, China might consider gradual easing of restrictions.
Japan's seafood producers will need to maintain transparent, rigorous testing and certification processes to regain full access to the Chinese market. Talks between Chinese and Japanese officials, alongside assurances from the International Atomic Energy Agency, facilitated the resumption. The reopening of the Chinese market under strict oversight provides a foothold for Japan's seafood industry in a market that was once lost.
The reopening of the Chinese market to Japanese seafood is a demonstration of cautious diplomatic rapprochement following tensions over Fukushima wastewater. China's monitoring efforts on seafood imports from Japan will continue, with shipments halted if safety violations occur. Japan aims to increase the number of included prefectures as safety confidence grows, with the goal of including currently excluded prefectures.
- China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) resumed seafood imports from most Japanese regions in June 2025, demonstrating a critical economic boost for affected fishery businesses in Japan.
- The ban on seafood imports from 10 key prefectures, such as Fukushima and Tokyo, however, remains in effect due to ongoing safety concerns and proximity to the Fukushima nuclear plant.
- Exporters from the permitted regions must re-register with Chinese authorities and comply with China's stringent food safety standards, including providing sanitary, radioactive material inspection, and production area certificates.
- China's process of gradually easing the import restrictions is influenced by ongoing monitoring, both domestically and internationally, with the potential for future adjustments.
- The stricter stance maintained by Hong Kong, which continues to ban seafood imports from the same 10 prefectures, suggests a cautious approach across various market players and regulatory bodies.
- To regain full access to China's market, Japan's seafood producers will need to uphold transparent and rigorous testing and certification processes while assuring Chinese officials of effective regulatory oversight, as facilitated by talks between Chinese and Japanese officials and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
