
China partially lifts ban on Japanese seafood imports
Three of six nuclear reactors at the plant suffered a meltdown during the tsunami, leaving the facility severely damaged. Over the years more than a million tonnes of treated waste water accumlated there. In 2023, Japan began discharging the treated waste water into the ocean - a move backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The process is expected to take up to 30 years.Although most experts agree that the release is safe, some scientists say there isn't enough research yet on the potential impact on the ocean. But Beijing criticised Japan's decision and almost immediately banned seafood from the country, citing environmental concerns and safety fears. Before that, China had been Japan's biggest seafood buyer accounting for nearly a quarter of its exports. Japan has said that China's move to partially lift the ban was a "positive" move, adding that the government will continue to urge Beijing to accept seafood imports from all of its regions. The decision came after Tokyo promised to ensure the safety and quality of its exports. Production companies that had suspended imports must now reapply for registration in China and would be subject to supervision, officials said. China and Japan are key trading partners but have long had a testy relationship because of territorial disputes and Japan's occupation of parts of China in the past.
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