China will ban the import of farm produce from 12 areas in Japan, including food, edible agricultural products and feedstuff, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.
The 12 areas are Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Chiba, Tohoku, Saitama, Yokoso, Tokyo, Yamanashi, Nagano and Niigata prefectures.
China's quality watchdog said in a statement on Friday that the restrictions were needed to ensure the safety of food and agricultural products in China. That's due to fears they could be contaminated by radiation from the earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant.
The regulator did not say how long the ban would remain in effect.
At least 25 countries have restricted imports of farm and other food products from Japan in response to leaks of radioactive substances from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.