Chinese customs authorities have launched sweeping radiation inspections of imported seafood from Japan, Kyodo News reported on March 18.

Earlier this month, China’s General Administration of Customs (Customs) announced on its WeChat (微信-Chinese version of KakaoTalk) channel that it was monitoring the impact of the marine discharge of contaminated water on food, saying, “We will take all necessary measures in a timely manner while monitoring the development of the situation to ensure the safety of Chinese consumers’ meals.”

Shortly after this announcement, the General Administration of Maritime Affairs reportedly began inspecting seafood from Japan.

As a result, the clearance of chilled seafood from Japan is expected to take two weeks, while frozen products will take a month, Kyodo reported.

The move is believed to be aimed at putting pressure on the Japanese government, which has been forced to release contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the ocean this summer.

China’s move has already reportedly caused some Chinese importers to stop buying seafood from Japan as inspections take weeks, 카지노사이트킴 making it difficult to maintain the freshness of seafood.

Kyodo News added that Japan’s Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are holding discussions on how to respond to China’s move.

Chinese authorities first banned imports of food, edible agricultural products and feed from 12 Japanese cities and prefectures, including Fukushima Prefecture, in 2011 following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and have now banned imports of food from 10 prefectures.