Japan's frozen scallops make their first return to the Chinese market, with trade undergoing a "tentative thaw."

Published 2025년 11월 10일

Tridge summary

Core tip: After nearly two years of suspension in Japan's exports of aquatic products to China, the first batch of 6 tons of frozen scallops from Hokkaido set sail for China on November 5, becoming the first Japanese seafood to be allowed into China since August 2023 when China fully suspended imports of Japanese aquatic products due to the discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water. This move is seen by Japanese media as a "tentative restart of China-Japan aquatic trade," but China remains highly cautious.

Original content

According to current Chinese customs policies, Japanese shellfish are only allowed to be imported from areas excluding the 10 high-risk prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi, Ibaraki, and others that are contaminated by nuclear pollution. Hokkaido, which has been approved for export this time, is not on the banned list. The relevant products must pass tests for radioactive substances, with a total cesium-134 and cesium-137 content not exceeding 50 becquerels per kilogram, and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) must be controlled below 0.8 milligrams per kilogram. At the same time, exporting companies must submit a "five certificates and one list" including a health certificate from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, test reports issued by laboratories accredited by CNAS, proof of the latitude and longitude of the fishing area, and cold chain temperature control records. Upon arrival at Chinese ports, the batch of scallops will enter a strict full-chain supervision process: ...

Source: Foodmate