VOL.198 NOVEMBER 2024
JAPANESE RAMEN AND ITS GLOBAL EXPANSION
[POLICY RELATED NEWS] Ensuring the Safety of Discharging ALPS Treated Water into the Sea and Expanding Consumption of Fishery Products
Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry MUTO Yoji enjoy lunch boxes prepared with fishery products from the Sanriku-Joban area to promote the Fourth Sanriku Joban Weeks campaign held from October to November 4, 2024, as one of the events of the “Discover the Charms!” Sanriku Joban Mono Network.
Photo: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
ALPS treated water* refers to the water that has been purified and treated using the ALPS purification system to remove multiple radioactive materials from inside the buildings of the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS). Since August 2023, TEPCO has discharged ten batches of ALPS treated water (as of the end of November 2024), and monitoring results and assessments by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)** have confirmed that the ALPS treated water is being discharged safely. One year has passed since TEPCO began discharging ALPS treated water into the sea, and we present the safety of ALPS treated water and the government’s efforts to increase the consumption of fishery products.
ALPS treated water
ALPS is the acronym for Advanced Liquid Processing System, a multi-nuclide removal system, that removes various radioactive materials. ALPS treated water is water that has been purified and treated until it satisfies safety standards for all radioactive materials other than tritium***. For tritium, the water is significantly diluted with seawater before discharge so that it fully satisfies safety standards.
Purification process
Assessment of Safety Aspects by the IAEA
The IAEA has established a field office on the premises of TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi NPS, where IAEA staff are stationed to witness and independently monitor the discharge of ALPS treated water. The IAEA has also continued its review since the start of the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, and the report the IAEA published in July 2024 clearly states that it did not identify anything that is inconsistent with the requirements in the relevant international safety standards.
A side event titled “Reconstruction and Recommissioning in Fukushima” at the 68th General Conference of the IAEA held in September 2024 focused on decommissioning work and reconstruction in Fukushima, with presentations on the current status of decommissioning at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi NPS and the IAEA’s activities relating to the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, informing the international community about the safety of the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea.
Monitoring results
TEPCO, the Nuclear Regulation Authority, the Ministry of the Environment, the Fisheries Agency of the Japanese government, and other relevant organizations continue to conduct monitoring to confirm that there are no significant changes in the concentration of radioactive materials in seawater and fish in Fukushima and neighboring prefectures before and after the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea. The sampling and monitoring methods and analytical capabilities of the organizations conducting the monitoring have been evaluated by the IAEA as appropriate with a continued high level of accuracy and competence. Monitoring results to date have confirmed that ALPS treated water is discharged into the sea in a safe manner. Monitoring results can be viewed at any time on the Overacting Radiation-monitoring data Browsing System in the coastal ocean of Japan (ORBS) page.
Efforts to expand consumption of Japanese fishery products
There have been no reports of significant declines in the prices of fishery products or other reputational effects caused by negative rumors domestically, except for the impact of import restriction measures imposed by some countries and regions. Even so, the Japanese government is promoting the safety and security of fishery products based on scientific evidence, such as the results of the aforementioned monitoring, both domestically and internationally in efforts to expand consumption. In particular, in order to diversify export sales channels for Japanese fishery products, the government is providing support by reaching out to overseas markets through global media and promotional events, inviting buyers, participating in exhibitions and arranging business meetings, and utilizing cross-border e-commerce. On the domestic front, the government is working to promote the appeal and increase the consumption of fishery products from the Sanriku-Joban area through initiatives such as the “Gohiiki” Sanriku Joban Campaign**** and the “Discover the Charms!” Sanriku Joban Mono Network*****.
Photo: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Tasting promotion of Japanese fishery products by famous local chefs at Seafood Expo Asia 2024(Singapore), one of Asia’s largest fishery products trade fairs. (Left: tasting demonstration, right: cooking demonstration by Eric Neo, President of Singapore Chefs’ Association)
Photo: Japan External Trade Organization
Future policy
The discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea will be conducted for many years. At the Inter-Ministerial Councils****** held in August 2024, the Japanese government confirmed its future policy of (1) ensuring safety and efforts to explain and disseminate information; (2) preventing adverse impacts on reputation and supporting the continuation of livelihoods; and (3) continuously pursuing future technologies.
*See “Ensuring the Safety of Discharging ALPS Treated Water into the Sea,” in HIGHLIGHTING Japan, October 2022 edition, and “Discharge into the Sea of ALPS Treated Water from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station” in HIGHLIGHTING Japan, September 2023 edition.
** An international organization that promotes international cooperation relating to nuclear energy under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).
*** Tritium (H-3) is a relative of hydrogen and a radioactive material that is broadly present in the natural environment. It is contained in tap water, rainwater and also in our bodies.
**** A campaign to promote sales of fishery products from Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures in cooperation with retail and distribution companies.
***** A project to expand the consumption of fishery products from Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, and Chiba prefectures by inviting broad participation from industry, local governments throughout Japan, and government agencies, and by connecting sellers and buyers of fishery products.
****** The 7th Inter-Ministerial Council for Contaminated Water, Treated Water and Decommissioning Issues and the 7th Inter-Ministerial Council for Steady Implementation of the Basic Policy on handling ALPS Treated Water. See (Japanese only)
This article was written with the consent of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and on the basis of publicly available data from the Ministry.
