COLOGNE (Germany): Japan is stepping up efforts to boost European sales of Japanese fishery products, particularly scallops, which have been banned by China.

Promotional events have been held in Britain and France, and a tasting session for professionals took place in Germany.

Although exports of such products to Europe are lower than those to the United States and Asia, a Japanese fisheries ministry official is confident.

“Demand for Japanese fishery products is growing, so there should be much room for growth,” the official said.

On Saturday, original dishes using Hokkaido scallops by the chef of a Michelin one-star local restaurant were served to buyers and food journalists during Anuga, one of the largest food fairs in Europe, being held in Cologne, western Germany.

One of those who tasted the dishes praised delicate tastes, while another said that scallops look good for dishes served at hotels and high-end restaurants.

The tasting event was hastily arranged following decisions by the Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

“The rich flavor and the texture of thick scallop are the main attraction,” Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki said in a video message.

At the venue, yellowtail from Oita and Ehime prefectures and sake from Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures were also served.

The Chinese government began a blanket ban on imports of Japanese fishery products in August in response to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.’s discharge into the ocean of tritium-containing treated water from its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Scallops were hit particularly hard. Japan’s exports of scallops to China in August fell 71.3 pct from a year earlier in value.

Japan began its promotional campaign for scallops in Europe in September, holding events in London and in Rugby World Cup host cities in France. Promotional activities are also planned for next April at a seafood fair in Spain.

In August this year, the European Union fully removed its import restrictions on Japanese products introduced in response to the 2011 meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant. This is likely to be a tailwind to scallop sales in Europe.

A business operator dealing in frozen fishery products for sushi restaurants in Germany said there is no concern about the effects of the water discharge from the Fukushima plant.

But the operator said that people will not buy scallops if the prices are high, adding that Canadian products, which are relatively lower-priced, would be a competitor.

JIJI Press