Ban on Fukushima foods an obstacle for Taiwan’s bid to join CPTTP

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/12/04
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Health authorities have refuted rumors Friday (Dec. 4) that Taiwan will lift a ban on foods from areas in Japan affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster by March next year.

Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said no such plans are being discussed, but admitted the issue has been revived every time the two sides hold negotiations, reported CNA.

The minister made the remark in response to reports that Japan is eyeing Taiwan removing the relevant restrictions by March 11, 2021, the 10th anniversary of the catastrophe. Currently, food and agricultural products from Japan's Fukushima, Ibaraki, Gunma, Tochigi and Chiba prefectures are prohibited from entering Taiwan.

The ban was introduced by the Kuomintang (KMT) government over food safety concerns related to radioactive contamination. Since Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) came to power in 2016, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has sought to scrap the restrictions — but to no avail due to fierce opposition.    [FULL  STORY]