U.S. Lifts Restrictions on Japanese Food Imports

The U.S. is the third largest importer of Japanese food products (Max Pixel).

The United States government lifted several restrictions on Japanese food imports on September 22, according to the Japanese agriculture minister. The U.S. had established import restrictions following the meltdown in the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant in 2011. The restrictions prohibited imports on nearly 100 agricultural, forestry, and fishery products from 14 prefectures, at the expense of farmers in the region. 

The U.S. is the third largest importer of Japanese food products after Hong Kong and China. After the Fukushima disaster, the amount of food exported from Japan to the U.S. decreased by approximately $20 million, according to the Japanese agriculture ministry.

Now ten years after the nuclear disaster, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted all import restrictions on Japanese food, citing their extensive analysis of Japan’s robust control measures. This decision came after the FDA determined that the risk of American consumers receiving food contaminated with radiation was very low. Foods that can now be imported include rice and shiitake mushrooms from Fukushima. 

The termination of the ban is partially a result of Japanese diplomatic efforts. According to  Japan’s agriculture ministry, Japanese officials have explained their elaborate process of food inspection to their U.S. counterparts. Furthermore, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who will step down this month, revealed that he personally urged President Joe Biden to abolish the restrictions during his visit to the U.S. in April. This diplomatic effort also resulted in the EU’s decision to eliminate all restrictions next month.

The Japanese government welcomed the abolishment of the ban. "It is a move that people in the disaster-hit areas have been waiting for, and something that will greatly contribute to the recovery of those places," Suga expressed on Twitter. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato also stated that he “welcomes the U.S. decision made on the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, which will further show the reconstruction of disaster-stricken areas to the international community.”

As the radiation level of food products from the region has fallen towards the safety standard over the past ten years, the number of countries and regions with import restrictions on Japanese food has decreased to 14, down from 55 countries. However, the concern towards Japanese food from the region still lingers, with countries such as China, South Korea, and Taiwan leaving their restrictions unchanged. Kato asserted that the U.S. decision to lift the restrictions would persuade these countries to do the same. Meanwhile, Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang said that the abolishment of the ban should not be based on political pressures, stating, “We deal with food products according to public health, scientific evidence, and internationally accepted standards.”