Peach exports from Fukushima Prefecture to Taiwan fully resumed on Monday (April 7), marking the first time since the shipments were halted after the 2011 nuclear crisis in northeastern Japan.
According to local officials, the first consignment of peaches has been shipped to Taiwan after bilateral talks resulted in an agreement on new safety inspection standards. Taiwan was previously one of Fukushima's largest peach export markets, accounting for roughly 30% of the prefecture's total peach exports before the disaster.
Following the incident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, many countries and territories imposed bans or restrictions on agricultural imports from the region due to radiation concerns. Taiwan was among the markets that maintained the longest ban, although it had gradually eased restrictions on some products starting in 2022.
The Fukushima prefectural government has invested years in safety inspections and product traceability, while also stepping up promotional efforts to rebuild consumer trust in Taiwan. Ms. Mimura Masao, a long-time peach farmer in Date City, said: "We have been waiting for this moment for 15 years. Our peaches are no less quality than before the disaster, and I am very happy to be able to send my products to Taiwan again."
The full resumption is expected to boost the local economy and pave the way for other agricultural products such as pears, cherries, and rice to return to the export market. However, Japanese authorities also stressed that market expansion will still require strict food safety monitoring in the coming period.
