Photo: CFP

Chinese authorities have recently seized a batch of banned nuclear-contaminated food from Japan in Jiashan county, Jiaxing city, East China’s Zhejiang Province, as they carry out strict scrutiny of food imports to protect the safety of Chinese consumers.

The batch of food includes candy, chocolates and beverages, Beijing Business Today, reported on Tuesday.

Jiashan officials found that a local store selling imported foods called “Shopping Jiaxing” was selling food from nuclear radiation-affected areas in Japan. They then told the local market supervision bureau to take action.

Law enforcement officers inspected the Zhejiang Shopping Jiaxing New Retail Technology Co and found 46 packs of Fujiya brand grape-flavored soft candy, 21 packs of Fujiya brand apple-flavored soft candy, four boxes of Fujiya brand chocolate, and 10 bottles of Suntory brand peach juice. The origin of these food products includes Fukushima Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, and Nagano Prefecture in Japan. 

The products are prohibited from being imported according to the Announcement on Strengthening the Inspection and Quarantine Supervision of Imported Food and Agricultural Products from Japan issued by Chinese authorities.

On July 7, the Jiashan country market supervision bureau confiscated the food products and ordered rectification in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Food Safety Law.

This is the latest case of Chinese authorities tightening scrutiny of food imports from Japan, as Chinese consumers are concerned about Japan's plan to dump nuclear wastewater into the Pacific.

Concerns over the safety of imported seafood from Japan are on the rise after the Japanese government moved closer to carrying out its plan to discharge the treated radioactive water into the sea.

China's customs announced on July 7 a ban on imports of food from Japan's Fukushima and nine other regions.

To prevent imports of Japanese food contaminated with radioactive substances and protect the safety of Chinese consumers, Chinese customs decided to ban imports of food from ten prefectures in Japan, including Fukushima, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said in the statement.

For food products from other regions in Japan, especially aquatic products, including edible aquatic animals, strict examination of the accompanying documents will be conducted, and an inspection will be implemented, the Chinese customs authorities said.