China halts imports of all seafood from Japan

China reported that Japan halted all imports of seafood from Japan after it began dumping radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima In-Dai nuclear power plant, which was damaged by the tsunami after the 2011 earthquake, into the ocean.

The decision, in a statement from the General Administration of Customs, stated that the decision “aims to prevent the risk of nuclear fallout caused by the discharge of radioactive wastewater into the sea from Fukushima, protect the health of Chinese consumers and the safety of imported food.”

In the statement, it was noted that in accordance with China’s Food Safety Law and its implementing regulations, the Regulation on the Safety of Imported and Exported Food and the World Trade Organization Convention on the Implementation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary, imports of all seafood, including groceries, from Japan have been suspended as of August 24.

RADIOACTIVE WATER RELEASE WILL BEGIN TODAY

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, in a statement after the cabinet meeting on August 22, announced that the discharge of radioactive wastewater from Fukushima into the ocean will begin on August 24.

In a statement from the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), operator of the plant, it was announced that the discharge process began today at 1:00 p.m. local time.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned and protested the unilateral evacuation of the Japanese government despite criticism and opposition, calling it “an extremely selfish and irresponsible act that ignores the global public interest.”

The ministry had stated that China would take necessary measures to protect marine ecology, food safety and public health.

According to the previously announced plan, Japan will discharge 7,800 tons of sewage into the ocean in 7 days in the first phase. It is expected to discharge a total of 31,200 tons of radioactive wastewater until March 2024.

NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES REACT

The plan has provoked a reaction from fishermen and environmental protection activists living in the region, as well as from neighboring countries, especially China.

The Tokyo government is fighting criticism that radioactive wastewater planned to be released into the ocean is being diluted with clean water, so the amount of radioactive material in the water is less than a quarter of what is considered harmful to human health and the environment. .

The International Atomic Energy Agency, in its report released on July 4 following its investigations at the power plant, claimed that Japan’s sewage dumping plan complied with safety standards.

The tsunami caused by the 9 magnitude earthquake that occurred in March 2011 damaged 3 of the 4 nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Dai-içi Nuclear Power Plant, and the vicinity of the power plant was declared an “evacuation zone” due to radioactive fallout. (AA)