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TOKYO, Oct. 17 Japan made a representation to Russia in connection with the decision of Rosselkhoznadzor to limit the export of fish products from Japan, said Secretary General of the Japanese Government Hirokazu Matsuno .
Rosselkhoznadzor on Monday announced that from October 16 it will temporarily restrict the export of fishery products from Japan: restrictions are being introduced until the provision of comprehensive information necessary to confirm the safety of aquatic products and compliance with the requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union.
«Russia's unilateral decision, not based on scientific data, is unacceptable; on October 16, a representation was sent to the Russian side through diplomatic channels demanding the cancellation (of these measures),» Matsuno said.
Matsuno emphasized that Japan has previously provided the world community, including Russia, with transparent information based on scientific data about the release of water from the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant and about the safety of Japanese seafood.
“Japan honestly and politely responded to all requests of interest to the Russian side, including the sudden demand for dialogue on October 10, and the demand for materials by the unilaterally set deadline of October 16. The fact that Russia, without reacting in any way to these actions of our country, without scientific justification, strengthened measures restricting the export of Japanese seafood products is unfair. And also goes against the international trend of easing restrictions on Japanese products. This is regrettable, we strongly demand the lifting of (these measures),» the Secretary-General said.
Japan began discharging water accumulated as a result of cooling the emergency reactors of the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant, in which nuclear fuel melted, into the ocean on August 24. On October 5, the release of the second batch of water began. The IAEA said plans to release this water into the ocean, which would take 30 years, were fully consistent with international standards. China, being the main importer of Japanese seafood, has introduced a total ban on their import and processing. Last year, the volume of imports from Japan of this type of goods into China amounted to 87.1 billion yen ($592 million). Later, Rosselkhoznadzor announced that it was considering joining China’s restrictive measures. Russia accounts for 0.1% in Japanese seafood exports. For a total of 280 million yen ($1.9 million).