ANKARA

China's Atomic Energy Authority announced on Thursday that its tests of seawater samples collected near Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant found no negative impact on marine species.

The development raises the possibility that Beijing might eventually lift its ban on Japanese seafood imports.

The samples, collected in mid-October, were the first obtained by Chinese scientists under international supervision near the ocean discharge outlet where treated nuclear-contaminated water was released, the authority said in a statement.

Despite the findings, Beijing plans to continue conducting "independent" sampling and testing to enhance international oversight of the discharge. Officials signaled that more testing is necessary before any decision is made regarding the seafood import ban.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning emphasized on Thursday that the resumption of Japanese seafood imports depends on a range of scientific data, including ongoing independent sampling and monitoring conducted by China.

Beijing imposed a blanket ban on Japanese seafood imports after Tokyo began releasing treated radioactive water into the sea in August 2023.

Last September, China had indicated it would “gradually resume” seafood imports from Japan. However, Mao reiterated that Japan must take concrete measures to ensure the quality and safety of seafood exported to China.