Japan’s
decision in 2023 to discharge waste water from the decommissioned Fukushima nuclear power plant sparked serious concerns in the region and beyond, so much so that Hong Kong
stopped importing seafood and other products from designated areas in the country while mainland China went further with a
total ban. Twenty-two months have passed and no major food scares have been reported in the city, thanks to the vigorous surveillance mechanism for imported seafood from other Japanese prefectures. It is time to consider easing the ban while maintaining the food safety monitoring arrangements.
Rightly and cautiously, Beijing has
partially lifted its ban on seafood imports from Japan. A Chinese customs notice issued on Sunday said shipments of seafood originating from “certain regions” of Japan would resume “conditionally” with immediate effect. The decision was based on ongoing long-term international monitoring and independent Chinese sampling of nuclear-contaminated water discharged from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that was crippled by a serious earthquake and tsunami in 2011. The move is to be welcomed, given no abnormalities have been found so far, and that Japan has expressed its commitment to ensuring the quality and safety of aquatic products exported to China. It is also seen as a step towards strengthening diplomatic ties with Tokyo amid growing political and economic tensions with the United States.
The Hong Kong government has stopped short of dropping the ban at this stage, but said it is seeking more information to ascertain whether there is a scientific basis for easing the ban.
The restrictions were never meant to be in force indefinitely. But it would have been imprudent had seafood from the affected area been freely available in Hong Kong markets and restaurants. That is why the city opted for a pragmatic approach, prohibiting imports from 10 prefectures deemed to be of higher risk, instead of following the mainland and imposing a total ban. But the partial ban still came as a blow to the affected industries, which were already struggling amid a slower than expected post-Covid recovery. Many local Japanese restaurants had to quickly adapt and secure supply from other areas.
The Post
has called for lifting the ban in due course, taking into account the scientific data from surveillance and the health risks of relaxation. The mainland’s decision can serve as a reference for the Hong Kong government as it considers its next step.
This does not mean it is time to lower our guard, though. Japan has indicated that the discharge of treated water will continue for decades. The public expects vigorous checks of imported seafood to be in place in the longer term so that what makes it to the dining table will continue to be safe for consumption.
