Russia, Discharge of Contaminated Water, Japan's Seafood Gap, China Expands Exports

"China Seeks Opportunity to Fully Ban Japanese Seafood Imports After Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Contaminated Water Discharge
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After China imposed a complete ban on imports of Japanese seafood following the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, major foreign media reported on the 26th (local time) that Russia is aiming to expand exports to China.

The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) stated in a press release the day before that it is exploring ways to increase the number of exporters to China.

The agency said, "The Chinese market is promising for Russian fish," adding, "We hope to expand the number of certified Russian companies and vessels, as well as the volume and variety of products."

It further added that it plans to continue dialogues with Chinese authorities regarding seafood safety and finalize negotiations related to supply regulations.

Rosselkhoznadzor also announced, "We have strengthened inspection procedures for Japanese seafood imports," and said it will work to prevent contamination of seafood in the Far East region, which accounts for about 70% of the country's catch volume.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Interfax news agency reported the day before that Russian authorities have intensified radiation inspections on seafood caught in waters relatively close to Fukushima.

Previously, China, which had blocked the domestic import of some Japanese food products, announced on the 24th, when Japan began discharging contaminated water into the ocean, a complete ban on seafood imports citing concerns over radiation exposure.

Meanwhile, Russia is one of the major countries supplying seafood to China, currently having 894 certified export companies.

According to Russian authorities, more than half of Russia's seafood exports from January to August this year were destined for China, with major species including pollock, herring, flounder, sardines, cod, and crab.

Last year, Russia exported about 2.39 million tons (worth approximately 8.0947 trillion won) of seafood, which accounted for nearly half of its total catch, with the largest importers being China, South Korea, and Japan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.