China Removes Japanese Seafood Exporters From Official Database Amid Fukushima Water Drainage Controversy; Reasons remain unclear

BEIJING – Chinese customs authorities have removed the registration of Japanese seafood exporters’ processing facilities from their official database, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. Although facility registration is required to export Japanese seafood products to China, database searches no longer show facilities of Japanese exporters as of Friday.

According to a seafood exporter in Kyushu who had previously registered, there has been no communication from the Chinese side and it remains unclear whether the registration has been revoked or temporarily suspended.

In August last year, the Chinese government completely halted imports of Japanese seafood products as a countermeasure to treated water emissions from the No. 1 Fukushima nuclear power plant. Therefore, the removal of the registration is unlikely to have a significant impact on the current situation.

A Japanese government official said: “This could be a step related to the suspension of imports of Japanese seafood products. There has been no statement from the Chinese side and their intentions are unclear.” The government plans to carefully assess Chinese motives behind this action.