G/SPS/GEN/1233/Rev.4  
 
29 June 2022 
(22-5047) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
CURRENT STATUS AFTER THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ACCIDENT  
COMMUNICATION FROM JAPAN  
Revision  
The following communication, received on 29 June  2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Japan . 
 
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ABSTRACT  
In response to the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS) 
in 2011, Japan has taken a comprehensive approach in securing  food safety. The accumulated 
monitoring data demonstrates that the level of radioactivity is very low and Japanese food has been 
safe for the public. The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture has 
evaluated that measures to mo nitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of 
food are appropriate, that the food supply chain is controlled effectively by the relevant authorities 
and that the public food supply is safe. The majority of the countries and regions wh ich provisionally 
introduced import measures on Japanese food has lifted them based on the scientific evidence, and 
the number of countries and regions which still maintain the measures are reduced to 14. Given the 
provided evidence, there is no need to im pose additional import control measures and Japan calls on 
Members to remove existing measures. Regarding the controlled discharge of the ALPS (Advanced 
Liquid Processing System) treated water, Japan takes measures considering international law and 
practic e, and the impact on the environment, marine biota as well as the health and safety of people, 
and continues to receive IAEA reviews and provide relevant information to the international 
community.  
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  In response to the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power 
Station (NPS) in March 2011, 55 countries and regions1 introduced import measures on food from 
Japan, and 41 have lifted them based on objective assessment. However, 14 countries and regions1 
still maintain import measures, such as import bans, additional test requirements and certificates, and 
non detectable level tolerance at border inspection tests.  
1.2.  This document updates the situation of radioactivity surrounding Japanese food, 11 years aft er 
the accident at the NPS. In particular, it provides an update on the risk management measures taken 
to secure food safety and to prevent environmental impacts from the NPS, and the resulting monitoring 
data, so that a more objective assessment of risk a nd review of the import measures on Japanese 
food, supposed to be provisionally adopted by the Members would be facilitated.  
 
1 Total numbers have increased from 54 to 55, and from 13 to 14, due to the change of regulation in the 
European Union in September 2021, which resulted in different measures taken by the European Union and the 
United Kingdom  (GB) and a need for separate counts.  G/SPS/GEN/1233/Rev.4  
 
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  2  FOOD SAFETY CONTROL AND STATUS OF SAFETY IN JAPANESE FOOD  
2.1.  Japan, soon after the accident, started decontamination such as of the cr op land and fruit trees, 
control over feed and agricultural input and introduced a risk -based food monitoring scheme. 
The effective dose from dietary intake has also been surveyed.  
2.2.  Japanese maximum permissible levels for radioactive caesium in food (JMLs)2 were set to meet 
the intervention exemption level of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), 1mSv/year, a level 
considered as safe for the public, and in consideration of the released nuclides and with highly 
conservative and hypothetical assumptions on the safe side, including that 50% of the food intake is 
contaminated. Accordingly, the JML for food in general is set as 100 Bq/kg, while the corresponding 
Codex guideline level is 1,000 Bq/kg and even 10,000 Bq/kg can be adopted and considered as safe 
for food with small consumption (CXS 193 -1995).  
2.3.  The monitoring has covered a wide variety of items including that consumed in large amounts 
and with elevated concentration of radionuclides in consideration of the effective dose. It is mainly 
performed at t he production stage and applies targeted sampling. The monitoring plans have been 
annually revised, reflecting the past test results, focusing on the items with higher concentration. 
Testing samples have been reduced3 due to undetectable level of radioact ivity, especially in farm 
products. Sampling also includes wild harvests under shipment restriction. Including these results, all 
are well below the above Codex guideline levels considered as safe for human consumption .3,4 
2.4.  In reference to the national regu latory standards, the results of major food are all within the 
JMLs.4 Non-compliance cases are limited to seasonal wild harvests rarely consumed and traded on 
local markets.5 The national laws mandate that items exceeding the stringent JMLs are recalled and 
disposed of, and their shipment is suspended. If there are exceeding cases in a particular item over 
an area, Japan suspends shipment of the item from the area. Japan's regulatory framework thus 
prevents food exceeding the JMLs from either entering the  food chain or being exported.6 
2.5.  Non-compliance in food imported from Japan has not been detected by the destination countries 
for more than eight years7, while non -compliance has been continuously detected in products such as 
mushrooms originated from co untries affected by the Chernobyl accident.8 
2.6.  The total dietary study conducted since September 2011 at plural sites including Fukushima 
shows that the estimated annual effective dose from food intake remains digits smaller than the 
intervention exemption level of the Codex.9 Both food monitoring and dietary exposure assessment 
 
2 JMLs (Bq/kg) are 50 for milk and infant food, 10 for drinking water and 100 for other food.  
3 Approximately 280 thousand in JFY 2019 and 41 thousand in JFY 2021.Farm samples especially beef 
were reduced, following th e revision of the monitoring guidelines in recent years.  
Source: Monthly data of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW ) - 
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/ 2011eq/index_food_radioactive.html . 
4 Data sourced from the monthly data of MHLW and summarized by MAFF, JFY2019 -2021 
https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/market/re ference/attach/pdf/reference -18.pdf  and the archives.  
5 The concentration of Cs134+Cs137 in recall cases were in seasonal wild harvests:110 -260 Bq/kg in leaf 
buds, 110 -930 Bq/kg in uncommon mushrooms and 130 -160 Bq/kg in local honey (below 0.8 %, out of ar ound 6 
thousand samples of marketed items, even by targeted sampling) in JFY2021.  
6 Apart from the governmental monitoring, the fisheries association in Fukushima prefecture conducts 
screening tests for every catch/lot of wild marine seafood before shipmen t. A few cases exceeding the JML were 
detected in black rockfish between February 2021 and January 2022. The shipment was restricted to prevent it 
from entering the market nor being exported. It is a minor wild marine species not in the national statistics . 
Around 33 thousand seafood lots have been monitored (JFY 2019 –2021)3 and these are  the only three cases 
(below  0.01%) that exceeded the JML including that detected by the association and confirmed by the 
prefecture.  
The research results by the national institute suggested the fish had stayed in the port of NPS.  
7 The last case of non -compliance with JML in Japanese food was dried mushroom (Cs134+Cs137: 167 
Bq/kg), detected by Hong Kong in August 2013.  
8 Cs137: 674 -2,304 Bq/kg in mushrooms (in 20 20 and 2021).  
Source: RASFF Portal, European Commission  
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff -window/portal/?event=searchResultList . 
9 Results of biannual market basket surveys: Effective dose from radioactive caesium was less than 
0.0010mSv/year in early 2021, around 1/1,000 of the intervention exemption level. 
https://www .mhlw.go.jp/shinsai_jouhou/topics.html  (in Japanese) . G/SPS/GEN/1233/Rev.4  
 
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  provide consistent evidence which confirm effectiveness of the control system in Japan and safety of 
Japanese food.  
2.7.  The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture stated in March 2022, 
"measures to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are 
appropriate, that the food supply chain is controlled effectively by the relevant authorities and that 
the public food supply is s afe". 
2.8.  A report "Food Safety and Radionuclides after March 2011" has been published recently under 
our one -stop "Reference" website, along with the short video launched on the occasion when it marked 
a decade after the Great East Japan Earthquake. It summar izes the control measures taken after the 
accident, evidence on food safety and the comparative data in the foreign countries.  
3  STATE OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THE TEPCO FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI 
NUCLEAR POWER STATION AND PLANNED DISCHARGE OF THE ALPS TREATE D WATER  
3.1.  Japan continuously monitors the sea area around the NPS10 and reports the updates to the IAEA. 
On 7 March 2022, the IAEA provided their assessment on the monitoring results during July to 
September 2021 and stated, "no significant changes were obse rved in the monitoring results for 
seawater, sediment and marine biota, including fishery products", "the levels measured by Japan in 
the marine environment are low and relatively stable".  
3.2.  In April 2021, Japan announced the Basic Policy on handling of the treated water stored at the 
NPS, which selected planned discharge into the sea, subject to domestic regulatory approvals by the 
Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA). Japan takes measures considering international law and practice. 
The water is to be repurifi ed and diluted to meet the regulatory standards for discharge. As practiced 
by other nuclear power plants in the world, only the water which compl ies with the international 
standards is to be discharged, so that the safety of the surrounding environment is  secured. The actual 
discharge will be conducted approximately after two years from the announcement, and the enhanced 
monitoring of  the marine environment has been initiated this fiscal year, in consideration of the 
radionuclides in ALPS treated water.  
3.3.  To ensure safety and enhance transparency, a series of IAEA reviews are to be conducted before, 
during and after the discharge of ALPS treated water11, overseen by the Task Force consist ing of the 
IAEA staff and 11 internationally recognized experts from Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, 
the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the 
United  States and Viet Nam. The first mission examin ed TEPCO’s implementation plan for the 
discharge and the radiological impact assessment on humans, marine biota and the environment in 
February. The implementation plan, which considered the recommendations of NRA and IAEA , is under 
the procedure of approv al by the NRA12 and will continue to be reviewed by the IAEA and to be 
developed and updated as necessary. The review continues and the discharge will not start until final 
approval of the pre -service inspection is granted.  
3.4.  Japan has continuously explained  the status of TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi NPS and the process 
for controlled discharge of the ALPS treated water to the international community such as through 
briefing sessions and monthly reports to the diplomatic missions in Tokyo, and direct communication  
with the food safety authorities of the importing countries who accepted the offer. Japan will continue 
such efforts, at the same time, expects the authorities to have risk communication with their people 
based on facts and science.  
 
10 Japan has been publishing food and environmental monitoring data, as well as relevant information 
concerning the NPS, through MAFF 's one -stop "Reference" website. The status of seawater around the NPS  can 
be viewed in real -time through TEPCO 's website and weekly at  the Nuclear Regulation Authority's website.  
11 There were two missions : (i) safety assessment review on TEPCO 's plan for the discharge of ALPS 
treated water ; and (ii) regulatory review on NRA, respectively in February and March 2022. The reports are 
available at the IAEA 's "Fukushima Daiichi Treated Water Discharge " site. 
12 TEPCO needs approval from NRA for any change in the implementation plan concerning the facilities and 
operation originally approved in 2013.  G/SPS/GEN/1233/Rev.4  
 
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  4  CONCLUSION  
4.1.  In summary,  the evidence shows that Japanese food has been safe for the public for many years 
and we have a very effective control system in place which guarantees trade of safe food that fulfils 
the national standard, for both domestic and international markets.  
4.2.  The joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture has evaluated that 
Japan's measures and response against radionuclide contamination in food are appropriate and that 
the food supply chain is controlled effectively, and that the public f ood supply is safe. Japan keeps the 
monitoring data and relevant information highly transparent and continues collaboration with the 
international organizations.  
4.3.  Risk of water contamination at the NPS is constructively managed and there has been no 
detectable change in marine environment and the biota. Japan will implement the discharge of the 
ALPS treated water in accordance with international practice and strictly comply with regulatory 
standards regarding safety, under IAEA review. Thus, the disch arge cannot be a reason for imposing 
import measures on Japanese food.  
4.4.  Given the evidence provided, there is no need to impose additional control measures on Japanese 
food and Japan calls on Members to remove their measures.  
References  
One stop "Reference" , Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan 
http://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/market/reference/reference.html  
 
Presentations  
1) Request and justification for l ifting import measures on Japanese food regarding radionuclides, 
Export and International Affairs Bureau, MAFF  
2) Procedure of controlled discharge, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, METI  
 
Links - Japan  
1) Information on the Great East Japan Earthquake – Food, Ministry of Health, Labour and 
Welfare https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/2011eq/index_food.html  
2) Results of the monitoring on radioactivity level in fishery products  
https://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/e/inspection/index.html  
3) Mid-and-Long-Term Roadmap towards the Decommissioning of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi 
Nuclear  Power  Station  Units 1-4 
https://www.meti.go.jp/english/earthquake/nuclear/decommissioning/index.html  
a) ALPS treated  water  (including  the Basic Policy) 
https://www.meti.go.jp/english/earthquake/nuclear/decommissioning/atw.html  
b) Briefing Session on the Current Status of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) 
Treated W ater at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, May 2022 
https://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2022/0510_001.html  
4) Radioactive Material Monitoring in the Water Environment in and around  Fukushima Prefecture  
http://www.env.go.jp/water/kaiyo/monitoring.html  (in Japanese)  
https://www.env.go.jp/en/water/rmms/surve ys.html  
5) Monitoring information of environmental radioactivity level, Nuclear Regulation Authority 
https://radioactivity.nsr.go.jp/en/  
6) Radioactive Concentration measured by Seawater Radiation Monitor near Fukushima Daiichi 
Nuclear Power Station  
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima -np/f1/seawater/index -e.html  
 G/SPS/GEN/1233/Rev.4  
 
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  Links - International organizations  
1) General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CXS  193-1995)  
http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/codex -texts/list -standards/en/  
2) IAEA, Fukushima Daiichi Status U pdates  
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/focus/fukushima/status -update  
a. IAEA assessment on aspects presented in the December 2021 report "Events and 
highlights on the progress related to recovery operations at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi 
Nuclear Power Station", pp.21 -23 
https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/22/03/even ts-and-highlights -december -
2021.pdf  
b. Interlaboratory Comparisons 2017 –2020: Determination of Radionuclides in Sea 
Water, Sediment and Fish, IAEA Analytical Quality in Nuclear Applications, 2021  
https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/21/07/preliminary -report -2021-
interlaboratory -comparison -2017-2020-determination -of-radionuclides -in-seawater -
sediment -and-fish.pdf  
3) IAEA, Fukushima Daiichi Treated Water Discharge Advanced Liquid Processing System 
(ALPS)  
https://www.iaea.org/topics/response/fukushima -daiichi -nuclear -accident/fukushima -
daiichi -treated -water -discharge  
4) Annals of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), P UBLICATION 
103, The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological 
Protection, p103 (Effective dose limit for the public:1mSv in a year)  
https://journals.sagepub .com/doi/pdf/10.1177/ANIB_37_2 -4 
 
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