Taiwan has announced the complete removal of restrictions on food imports from Japan, a policy that had been in place for more than a decade following the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The restrictions, which targeted products from five Japanese prefectures — Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Chiba — were originally imposed due to concerns about radioactive contamination. While some measures were eased in 2022 and 2024, Friday’s announcement marks the full restoration of Japanese food imports into Taiwan.
According to Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Japanese food safety management measures have now “returned to normal,” meaning imports from the affected regions will no longer face special inspections or bans. The decision takes immediate effect.
The announcement came shortly after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te was seen publicly eating Japanese seafood, a symbolic gesture interpreted as a show of solidarity with Tokyo. Lai’s move followed reports that China would suspend imports of Japanese seafood amid a diplomatic spat triggered by Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan Channels Television 台湾新闻网 アラブニュース.
Taiwanese officials encouraged citizens to buy more Japanese products and travel to Japan, framing the policy shift as both an economic and political statement. Analysts note that the timing underscores Taiwan’s alignment with Japan in the face of Chinese pressure, while also strengthening bilateral trade ties.
Japan welcomed the decision, with officials highlighting that Taiwan had conducted over 270,000 border inspections on Japanese food products since 2011, all of which confirmed safety standards. The lifting of restrictions is expected to boost Japanese exports of seafood, agricultural goods, and processed foods to Taiwan, one of its key trading partners in Asia.
Observers say the move could further strain relations between Taipei and Beijing, which has long opposed closer Taiwan-Japan cooperation. However, for Taiwanese consumers and businesses, the policy change opens up wider access to Japanese food products and deepens cultural and economic exchange.
