strengthened import restrictions on food and feeds products with regard to radionuclides in october 2013 japan expressed concerns regarding koreas fishery import restrictions including a ban on imports from eight prefectures and additional testing and certification requirements in all cases where radioactive cesium was detected even in quantities below the korean limit of 100 bq kg. this requirement applied exclusively to japanese products korean and other trading partners products could be distributed as long as the radioactive cesium level remained below 100 bq kg. japan reiterated that contaminated water at the fukushima daiichi nuclear power station had been detected only within an area of 0.3 square kilometres inside the port and that the problem of contaminated water should not be equated with the safety of japanese fishery products. japans central and local governments had taken measures to prevent the distribution of fishery products where required and the amount of samples exceeding the limit of 100 bq kg had drastically decreased both in the fukushima prefecture from 53 in march june 2011 to 2.2 in july september 2013 and elsewhere from 6.5 to 0.4 during the same periods . japan recalled that sps measures must not arbitrarily or unjustifiably discriminate between trading partners and urged korea to provide a scientific basis for its measures or explain concretely how the available scientific evidence was insufficient to carry out a risk assessment. korea indicated that its measures were in accordance with article 5.7 of the sps agreement as a result of insufficient scientific evidence and the potentially far-reaching cumulative effects of radioactive contamination on human health. korea was reviewing the information provided by japan but needed more time to come to a final determination. in march 2014 japan reiterated its concerns regarding koreas food fisheries and feed import restrictions. these included a ban on imports from eight prefectures and additional testing and certification requirements in all cases where radioactive cesium was detected even in quantities below the korean limit of 100 bq kg. this requirement applied exclusively to japanese products korean and other trading partners products could be distributed as long as the radioactive cesium level remained below 100 bq kg. japan noted that korea also required inspection certificates on feed exported from certain areas in japan. korea explained that its measures were in accordance with article 5.7 of the sps agreement as a result of insufficient scientific evidence and the potentially far-reaching cumulative effects of radioactive contamination on food safety and human health. korea was in the process of reviewing requested information provided by japan in january 2014 but given the complexity of the issue needed more time to come to a final determination. korea was willing to engage with japanese experts and discuss bilaterally in order to finalize this process promptly. in july 2014 japan reiterated its concerns regarding koreas food fisheries and livestock products import restrictions. these bans and additional testing requirements for radionuclides were non-transparent not based on science discriminatory and more trade-restrictive than necessary. japan had held numerous bilateral meetings and provided detailed information to korea and had offered additional meetings between experts but korea had not agreed to participate. in march 2014 according to articles 4 and 5.8 of the sps agreement japan had requested korea 1 to provide an explanation of the objectives and reasons for koreas sps measures 2 to identify the risks that its measures intend to address 3 to indicate the level of protection that its measures intend to achieve and 4 to provide a copy of any risk assessments undertaken. in june 2014 japan had reiterated its written request. furthermore koreas measures had not been published and the korean enquiry point had not responded to requests for additional information. if kor