(Yicai) Aug. 24 -- China announced today to suspend the import of all edible aquatic products originating from Japan after the latter began to discharge nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.

In order to prevent the risk of radioactive contamination caused by the release of wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, China made the ban effective immediately, the General Administration of Customs of China announced today.

The Japanese government today initiated the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima atomic power plant into the Pacific Ocean despite strong international doubts and opposition.

On July 7, the GAC announced that it would ban the import of food from 10 Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, and inspect all products entering the country from the rest of Japan, especially aquatic products, over radioactive concerns. The GAC also said it would continue to strengthen the detection and monitoring of radioactive materials to ensure the safety of imported food from Japan.

Hong Kong and Macao will also suspend the import of seafood products originating from the Japanese prefectures of Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, and Saitama from today. Macao’s ban also includes vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy products, meat and animal derivatives, poultry, and eggs from the above regions.

Japan’s export of agriculture, forestry, and fishery products rose 14.3 percent to JPY1.41 trillion (USD9.7 billion) last year from a year before, setting a new record for the 10th consecutive year, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. Exports to China accounted for over one-quarter of the total.

Editor: Futura Costaglione