According to news from SeafoodNews on April 20, South Korea’s Ministry of Ocean Affairs stated that due to concerns about Japan’s plan to discharge sewage from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, South Korea will conduct special inspections on the country of origin labels of imported seafood.

An intensive two-month inspection in cooperation with the Coast Guard will start next month to check whether importers, distributors and retailers are properly labeling the origin of key seafood from overseas such as scallops, sea bream, and sea octopus, South Korea's Agriculture Ministry said.

The move comes amid growing concerns in South Korea about the safety of imported seafood as the Japanese government plans to discharge radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.

Due to the Fukushima nuclear leak in 2011, South Korea banned the import of all seafood from the eight Japanese counties near Fukushima in 2013. The South Korean government stated that import restrictions must not be lifted at the expense of the safety and health of its citizens.

Products that do not label the country of origin face a fine of up to 10 million won (about $7,600), and products that falsify the country of origin face up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million won.