Chinese authorities have announced specific criteria for loosening import restrictions placed on foodstuffs from Japan because of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, which oversees food safety in China, issued a notice June 13 to local quarantine bureaus about the criteria, which include removing Yamagata and Yamanashi from the list of 12 prefectures banned.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced the move to loosen the restrictions in talks with Prime Minister Naoto Kan on May 22 in Japan.
Since no specific criteria were presented, imports from Japan have yet to resume.
The announced criteria also include looser requirements for attaching radiation-inspection certificates on processed and some other foods from 37 other prefectures. The requirements are now limited to dairy products, vegetables, fruits, tea leaves, fishery products and other perishable foods.