Manila — A decade-long trade barrier between the Philippines and Japan has been dismantled. On January 11, the Philippine government removed its most stringent restrictions on food imports from four Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima. The decision, announced by Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., eliminates the requirement for radiation test certificates on shipments of meat, fruit, vegetables, and seafood from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma.
The ban had been in place since the 2011 nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami. That catastrophe, the second-worst nuclear accident in history, led to widespread fears about food safety from the affected region.
For nearly a decade, the Philippines required proof that agricultural and seafood products from these prefectures were free of radioactive contamination. The testing process was costly and time-consuming, effectively choking trade. Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu traveled to Manila to finalize the agreement.
He expressed relief at the development and signaled that improved trade relations could pave the way for expanded cooperation, including infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia — a longstanding priority for Japan. Locsin matched the optimism, stating he looked forward to the next steps in bilateral ties.
The timing of the move is significant. Japan has been actively lobbying for the rollback of post-Fukushima import bans across the region. The Philippines, a major trading partner, was one of the last significant holdouts in Asia.
The restrictions had been in effect for nearly ten years, a prolonged period for farmers and fishermen in the four prefectures whose livelihoods were severely impacted. While the ban has been lifted, not all controls have been eliminated.
The Philippines has elevated the restrictions, shifting from a strict prohibition to a more manageable regulatory framework. The critical change is the removal of the mandatory radiation test results with each shipment. This was the primary bottleneck that slowed trade to a crawl.
Without this paperwork requirement, Japanese exporters can now move products faster and at lower cost. The Japanese government welcomed the step, noting it aligns with a broader trend of countries easing or dropping Fukushima-related food bans.
Scientific assessments have long indicated that contamination levels in food from the region are within safe limits, but political and public concerns kept the old rules in place for years. Motegi’s visit to Manila was not solely about food imports; the meeting with Locsin covered the broader bilateral relationship. However, the food import issue was the headline achievement. It sends a clear message: Japan is committed to restoring normal trade relationships in the region and is willing to deploy its top diplomats to achieve that goal.
For the agricultural and seafood sectors in Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma, the change opens a market of over 100 million people. After a decade of restricted access, the Philippine market no longer requires a radiation certificate to enter.
