Taiwan Lifts All Remaining Japanese Food Import Restrictions Imposed After Fukushima Disaster

End of Over a Decade of Restrictions

Taipei, Taiwan – On Friday, November 21, 2025, Taiwanese authorities officially lifted all remaining import restrictions on Japanese food products, measures that had been in place since the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. The decision marks the end of a 14-year period of heightened scrutiny and phased relaxation of import rules, bringing Taiwan's food safety regulations for Japanese products in line with international standards.

The initial blanket ban, implemented after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that led to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster, targeted food imports from five specific Japanese prefectures: Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Chiba.

Phased Relaxation and Scientific Basis

The path to full liberalization began in February 2022, when Taiwan first eased the blanket ban. This initial relaxation introduced a system requiring dual certification (proof of origin and radiation test results) and 100 percent batch-by-batch border inspections for products from the affected prefectures that were legally sold in Japan. Further adjustments to these policies occurred in 2024.

The final decision to lift all remaining restrictions is rooted in extensive scientific assessment. According to the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), scientific evidence indicates a 'negligible' risk of radiation exposure from these foods.

• Between February 21, 2022, and November 16, 2025, Taiwan conducted tests on 24,304 batches of food products from the five Japanese prefectures, with all samples meeting safety standards.
• Since 2011, Taiwan has inspected over 270,000 batches of Japanese food for radiation, reporting a 0 percent failure rate.

TFDA Director General Chiang Chih-kang emphasized that Japan's monitoring measures, reviewed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are considered effective.

New Import Regulations and International Context

Under the new regulations, Japanese food imports will be subject to regular, risk-based border inspections, consistent with the procedures applied to food products from other countries. However, any items banned for sale within Japan will continue to be prohibited in Taiwan. The previous requirements for certificates of origin for all Japanese food items and radiation inspection reports for products from the five prefectures have been eliminated.

Taiwan's move aligns it with the majority of nations that had imposed similar restrictions. Of the 53 countries and regions that initially implemented controls after the Fukushima accident, 49 have already lifted them. Following Taiwan's decision, only China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Russia, and South Korea maintain special import restrictions on Japanese food products.

Geopolitical Implications

The timing of this announcement also carries geopolitical significance. It follows a period of heightened tensions between Japan and China, particularly after recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding potential military intervention if Taiwan were attacked. In a symbolic gesture of support for Japan, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te posted images of himself consuming Japanese seafood on social media.