More than one year has passed since the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea, and its safety is becoming more evident

　　More than one year has passed since the commencement of the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea on 24th August 2023. The more time has passed, the more data has accumulated, therefore, its safety has become even more evident.

1. Safety of the plan of the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea
　　The first thing we would like to state is that “the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea is safe”. We still see some articles describing the water that is discharged into the sea as "nuclear-contaminated water". However, what is discharged into the sea is the ALPS treated water, that is, radioactive substances other than tritium in this water are purified until they meet safety standards through treatment by a system called the ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System), and this ALPS treated water is discharged after being greatly diluted with seawater in order for tritium in it to satisfy safety standards. Therefore, we would like to reiterate that it is not “nuclear-contaminated water”, but is “treated water”, which is safe and does not have any impact on humans and the environment.

　　In the Radiological Environmental Impact Assessment (REIA) for the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has conducted a thorough evaluation on the possibilities of ocean dispersion, bioaccumulation and long-term accumulation of various nuclides, including tritium, in accordance with international standards and guidelines and has shown that it is sufficiently within the safety standards of Japan which is established in accordance with international guidelines.

　　Following that, the IAEA which has the international authority in the field of nuclear energy, released a comprehensive report in July 2023. The report concluded that the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea is in line with relevant international safety standards and that the impact on humans and the environment is negligible.


2. The safety of the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea in practice
　　The second thing we would like to state is that the IAEA affirmed the safety of the discharge itself of the ALPS treated water into the sea, which has been conducted since last August. Mr Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, visited Japan in March this year and reaffirmed that the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea is being carried out safely and as planned in full accordance with international standards. Furthermore, the IAEA report of the review mission on the safety aspects of handling the ALPS treated water, which was published in July this year, also once again reaffirmed that the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea is being carried out safely.

3. No abnormalities have been found in all monitoring results, including in Japan, Hong Kong and Macau.
　　The third thing we would like to state is that it is evident that the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea is safe after more than one year since the commencement of the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea and various monitoring and inspections have been conducted by Japan, the IAEA and third countries and regions, including Hong Kong and Macau. Specifically, while the Ministry of the Environment in Japan, the Fisheries Agency in Japan, Fukushima Prefecture and TEPCO, together with the involvement of the IAEA and third-country laboratories including the laboratories from China, South Korea and Canada, have been conducting multilayered monitoring, no abnormalities were found in these monitoring activities, and the concentration of radioactive materials including tritium in the discharged water was far below regulatory standards. All of these results of such monitoring have been publicly announced.

　　In addition, regarding radioactive materials in aquatic products, all of the tritium analysis results conducted by Japan were below the detection limit value, and all of the radioactive cesium analysis results were also below the Japanese maximum level (100 Bq/kg) for food.

　　Moreover, Hong Kong and Macau have also been conducting inspections on food and others imported from Japan, and as a matter of course, no cases have been found where results of the monitoring exceeded the Japanese maximum level (Please refer to the attachment regarding the detailed inspection results.). Therefore, it has been proved more clearly and scientifically that the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea is safe and, furthermore, that Japanese agricultural , forestry and aquatic products and foods are safe. 

　　Japan has been promptly and highly transparently disclosing the data obtained by monitoring since the commencement of the discharge of water into the sea and it has been confirmed that Japan's ocean and aquatic products are safe. Such data or information is being provided to the Hong Kong Government and the Macau Government promptly and appropriately

4. The import control measures imposed by the Hong Kong Government and the Macau Government are not based on scientific evidence.
　　Nevertheless, the Hong Kong Government and the Macau Government imposed and maintain import control measures, which are not based on scientific evidence, against Japanese agricultural, forestry and aquatic products and foods following the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea in 2023. Until now, the Hong Kong Government continues to prohibit import of aquatic products originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, and the Macau Government continues to prohibit import of aquatic products, fresh foods and animal food products originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures. 

　　As stated above, the safety of the ALPS treated water itself and the safety of the actual discharge into the sea have been confirmed by the IAEA, an international authority in the field of nuclear energy. No abnormalities have been found from the results of various monitoring and inspections conducted by Japan, the IAEA and third countries and regions, including Hong Kong and Macau. The Japanese Government has been continuously requesting the Hong Kong Government and the Macau Government to immediately lift their current import control measures, since these measures which are not based on scientific evidence are extremely regrettable.

5. The several incidents that have occurred recently at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station are not directly related to the safety of the discharge.
　　In addition, it was reported that several incidents occurred at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, including water leakage. However, these incidents are not directly related to the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea. For example, a water leakage and others occurred in the spent fuel pool of Unit 2 of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on 9th August this year. However, this incident is not directly related to the purification function of the ALPS and the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea. It has been confirmed that the water which leaked inside the reactor building of Unit 2 of the nuclear power station remained inside the building and did not leak outside, including into the sea. Furthermore, this water is used to cool the fuel rods in the spent fuel pool, which is different from the ALPS treated water, and it does not affect the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea. The Japanese Government immediately reported the incident to the IAEA, and the IAEA issued a press release stating that this incident was not related to the discharge of the ALPS treated water.

6．Whether or not the ALPS’ equipment is operating effectively is not directly related to the safety of the discharge.
　　Furthermore, some critics pointed out that there is no guarantee from the Japanese authorities that the purification and dilution system of the ALPS treated water can operate continuously and effectively in the long term. 

　　However, the water treated by the ALPS needs to be confirmed that it meets the regulatory standards before its discharge. If it does not meet such standards, the water shall not be discharged in the first place. Therefore, whether or not the ALPS system itself is operating effectively is not directly related to the safety of the discharge. 

　　In any case, there is no change in our stance that the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea will be carried out through a process, including equipment inspections and confirmation that the treated water to be discharged meets regulatory standards, and we will continue to take all possible measures to ensure its safety.

7．Japan and China reached the shared recognition to steadily restore imports of aquatic products from Japan.
　　The Chinese Government has also imposed import restrictions on aquatic products from Japan. In response to that, the Japanese Government continued communication with the Chinese side on a number of occasions and reached the shared recognition that was respectively announced in public on 20th September this year. Main points of the shared recognition with both sides are that the Japanese side welcomed the expansion of current monitoring activities to be taken under the framework of the IAEA and the Chinese side made it clear that it would restore imports of aquatic products from Japan, based on scientific evidence, after joining the aforementioned monitoring activities. Details are shown as below.
　　https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/pressit_000001_01181.html
　　
　　On the 23rd of the same month, Ms KAMIKAWA Yoko, then Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, met with Mr WANG Yi, the Foreign Minister of the PRC, in New York, and based on the shared recognition between Japan and China that was announced on 20th September, stated Japan’s intention to carry out the additional monitoring at an early timing and make sure to demonstrate tangible progress towards the elimination of restrictions.

　　The Japanese side will continue to provide relevant information and scientific data etc. to the Hong Kong Government and the Macau Government, in a prompt and appropriate manner, with a high degree of transparency and reliability, and will continue to request that the Hong Kong Government and the Macau Government take appropriate measures at an early timing, based on scientific evidence, for the immediate lifting of the import control measures which Japan has been seeking.