Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has unveiled plans to relax import restrictions on Japanese food products from five prefectures, including Fukushima, marking a significant step in bilateral relations. The decision, announced in a press release on Tuesday, extends the territory’s existing measures, which initially lifted most restrictions on food from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Chiba prefectures back in 2022.
Under the new measures, restrictions on additional products such as mushrooms and wild animal meat will be lifted. However, all imports from these prefectures will still require rigorous scrutiny, including a certificate of radiation inspection and batch-by-batch inspections at entry points. A certificate of origin, mandatory for all Japanese imports, will also continue to be required.
Emphasizing its commitment to food safety, Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare stated, “The government has prioritized food safety based on scientific evidence and international standards, aligning with practices observed in advanced nations to adjust control measures for Japanese food imports.”
The proposed changes are slated to come into effect following a 60-day review period to gather public feedback.
Responding to Taiwan’s announcement, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi hailed the decision as “a positive step” toward supporting the recovery of disaster-affected areas. He underscored the importance of Taiwan as a crucial partner and expressed optimism that the easing of regulations would further strengthen economic and friendly ties between the two nations.
Hayashi also confirmed Japan’s ongoing efforts to eliminate import restrictions imposed by other countries and regions, signaling continued diplomatic efforts on the matter.
Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster, Taiwan has monitored over 235,000 batches of Japanese food imports for radiation levels at entry points, all of which have met safety standards set by both Taiwan and Japan.
Following the disasters, more than 50 countries initially imposed restrictions on Japanese food imports. As of now, only four territories—China, South Korea, Russia, and Taiwan—have yet to fully lift these measures. Notably, China implemented a comprehensive ban on Japanese seafood imports last year, citing concerns related to treated water releases from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Russia, in alignment with China, also imposed similar restrictions.
Japan has repeatedly protested these bans, labeling them as “extremely regrettable” and “unacceptable.”