TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will remove dual certification and 100% batch inspections for foods from Fukushima and neighboring prefectures, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

The agency said it will return to source-based and risk-focused checks, per CNA. Foods banned in Japan will remain prohibited in Taiwan.

Since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, Taiwan has blocked imports from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Chiba for nearly 11 years, per PTS. FDA Director-General Chiang Chih-kang (姜至剛) noted that rules were gradually eased in 2022 and 2024, combining dual certification with batch inspections.

Health and Welfare Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said 49 of 53 countries that restricted Japanese foods have lifted their bans, with only China, South Korea, and Russia maintaining partial or full restrictions.

From February 2022 through July 2025, authorities inspected more than 21,700 batches from the five prefectures, adding to over 263,000 batches checked in the past 14 years. All met Taiwan and Japan’s safety standards, with zero failures reported.

Officials said the change will allow consumers greater access to Japanese foods while ensuring only safe items reach Taiwanese tables.