TOKYO: Japan has expressed its welcome to the European Union’s decision to lift restrictions on food imports imposed in the aftermath of the 2011 nuclear accident triggered by a powerful earthquake and tsunami.
According to the Nikkei newspaper, the EU is in the final stages of lifting all restrictions on Japanese food, although it did not disclose its sources.
The bans on food imports have been in place since the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, located on Japan’s east coast north of Tokyo, suffered multiple meltdowns due to the natural disasters. The government spokesperson, Mr. Hirokazu Matsuno, stated in a news conference that Japan appreciates the positive steps towards lifting the restrictions and hopes that it will contribute to the reconstruction efforts in the affected areas.
Earthquake and Tsunami Devastation in Japan in 2011
The 2011 earthquake and tsunami resulted in the tragic loss of nearly 20,000 lives along Japan’s Pacific coast and led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents due to the nuclear plant meltdowns.
This news about the lifting of restrictions comes just ahead of the visit by Rafael Mariano Grossi, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who is scheduled to present the agency’s findings on the safety of Japan’s plan to release water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.
Japan intends to release 1.3 million metric tons of water, which has been treated to remove most of its radioactive elements but still contains traces of tritium, an isotope that is difficult to eliminate from water.
Since 2021, the IAEA has been conducting a safety review of Japan’s plan and will inaugurate an office at the Fukushima plant during Mr. Grossi’s visit.