Government: "We will analyze Japan's contaminated water discharge plan... Public safety is the top priority"

IAEA "Monitoring System Is Reliable" Midterm Evaluation

The government plans to conduct a comprehensive scientific and technical analysis of Japan's entire plan to discharge contaminated water into the ocean, separately from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s monitoring report on Fukushima contaminated water.

Previously, the IAEA issued an interim evaluation stating that the Japanese government's monitoring system for the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is reliable. Although it added that additional explanations are needed regarding the methodologies used for measuring radioactive material concentrations, it basically found no issues with the discharge of contaminated water.

On the 6th, the Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Prime Minister's Secretariat released a press reference stating, "We are analyzing Japan's entire plan for ocean discharge of contaminated water based on the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA)'s review and inspection data, meeting contents, Q&A with Japan, and IAEA's confirmatory monitoring results."

This will include specialized institutions such as the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. Our specialized institution (KINS) has also been participating in the IAEA's verification of contaminated water since March last year.

In addition, the government announced plans to operate a control system to protect the ocean and seafood safety in preparation for Japan's ocean discharge of contaminated water.

Currently, the government maintains import restrictions on Japanese food, including a ban on all seafood from the eight prefectures surrounding Fukushima (ban on all seafood from the eight prefectures surrounding Fukushima and 27 agricultural products from 15 prefectures).

Furthermore, ships carrying ballast water from the two prefectures near the nuclear accident area (Fukushima Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture) are required to exchange ballast water in international waters, and ships that have not exchanged ballast water are subject to a full investigation for radioactive contamination.

The Prime Minister's Office stated, "We will continue to make our best efforts regarding Japan's contaminated water issue under the principle that the safety and health of the people are the top priority."