China Customs: Conditional Resumption of Imports of Aquatic Products from Certain Regions of Japan

China Customs: Conditional Resumption of Imports of Aquatic Products from Certain Regions of Japan

Announcement No. 140 [2025] by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China

In view of continued long-term international monitoring and China's independent sampling and testing of the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima-which to date have shown no abnormalities-and based on the Japanese government's commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of aquatic products exported to China, the Chinese side has decided to conditionally resume imports of aquatic products (including edible aquatic animals, hereinafter the same) from certain regions of Japan. This decision aligns with China's food safety laws and regulations, as well as relevant principles under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, with the goal of safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese consumers. The details are as follows:

1. Effective immediately, imports of aquatic products originating from certain regions in Japan will be conditionally resumed. This excludes the following ten prefectures: Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama, Tokyo, and Chiba.

2. Japanese exporters of aquatic products to China must comply with relevant Chinese regulations, including the registration of overseas producers of imported food. Enterprises whose imports were previously suspended must reapply for registration in China. Only aquatic products produced after the date of successful registration may be exported to China. For edible aquatic animals, both aquaculture and packaging enterprises must also reapply for registration, and may only engage in trade with China upon completion of registration.

3. At the time of import declaration, shipments of aquatic products from Japan must be accompanied by the following documentation issued by the Japanese authorities:

* A health certificate,

* A certificate of compliance with radiation standards, and

* A certificate of origin indicating the production area.

4. China Customs will implement strict supervision and inspection of aquatic products imported from Japan. Should any products be found in violation of Chinese laws, regulations, or food safety standards-or if Japan fails to effectively fulfill its official regulatory responsibilities-China will promptly adopt control measures to safeguard public health and safety.

As a result of this announcement, Announcement No. 103 [2023] by China Customs is hereby repealed.

This announcement is hereby made.

General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China

June 29, 2025