[Updated] Taiwan Lifts Import Ban on Foods from Five Japanese Prefectures Including Fukushima

Taiwan has lifted its remaining import ban on foods from Fukushima and other four neighboring areas, but radiation inspection certificates and certificates of origin are required. Food imports from other regions of Japan will no longer require radiation inspection certificates.

On September 25, 2024, Taiwan officially enacted the revised regulations Types of Food and Their Production or Manufacturing Areas in Japan Whose Imports Are Suspended⁵ and Designated Foods Imported from Japan Shall Be Accompanied with Certificate of Radioactive Examination Results for Import Inspection⁶, which took effect immediately.

As per the revision, Taiwan has removed its remaining import ban on mushrooms, meat of wild birds and other wild animals, and a vegetable called "koshiabura" from Fukushima and other four neighboring areas including Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba. These products now can apply for import inspection with radiation inspection certificates and certificates of origin, and are subject to batch-by-batch inspection measures at the border. Additionally, food imports from other regions of Japan will no longer require radiation inspection certificates.

Details of the revised provisions are as follows:

Types of Food and Their Production or Manufacturing Areas in Japan Whose Imports Are Suspended	Designated Foods Imported from Japan Shall Be Accompanied with Certificate of Radioactive Examination Results for Import Inspection
Foods in Japan’s List of Shipping Restriction	Allowed foods from Fukushima and the other four prefectures

Thereafter, Taiwan's import control measures for Japanese foods are as follows:

Importation of foods listed under Japan's shipping restrictions is prohibited.
All food imports from Japan must be accompanied by certificates of origin
Food imports from Fukushima and the other four prefectures must be accompanied by both radiation inspection certificates and certificates of origin, and are subject to batch-by-batch inspection at border

Taiwan Relaxes the Ban on Foods from Five Japanese Prefectures (published on Feb. 21, 2022)

[Updated on Feb. 21, 2022]

The involved two notices released by Taiwan FDA come into effect on Feb 21, 2022.

View the details at ChemLinked Regulatory Database:

The Fukushima nuclear accident, occurred in 2011, was a huge disaster. In the same year, out of food safety reasons, Taiwan area banned¹ the importation of foods from five Japanese prefectures, namely, Fukushima, where the disaster occurred, and neighboring areas, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba. Now eleven years after the Fukushima nuclear accident, Taiwan intends to ease the restrictions on foods from Japan as revealed by two consultation drafts released on Feb 8, 2022.

Specified by the Taiwan FDA Notice No. 1111300064² and No. 1111300067³, imported foods from the five Japanese prefectures will be subject to two supervision types, being banned or being allowed if provide radiation inspection certificates. Moreover, certain foods from other areas of Japan (e.g. infant food from Miyagi) also need to provide radiation inspection certificates once the draft gets approved. See details in the table below.

Be Banned	Shall provide radiation inspection certificates and apply for inspection from the inspection authority
Foods that are in Japan’s List of Shipping Restrictions⁴ Mushrooms, the meat of wild birds and other wild animals, and a vegetable called "koshiabura" from the five prefectures	Allowed foods from the five Japanese prefectures Mushrooms from Miyagi, Iwate, Yamanashi or Shizuoka Aquatic products from or manufactured in Miyagi or Iwate Tea products manufactured in Shizuoka Dairy products and baby foods manufactured in Miyagi, Saitama or Tokyo Metropolis

Any feedbacks shall be sent to Taiwan FDA (contact email: lydialin1109@fda.gov.tw) within 10 days after the release of these two notices.