IAEA says Fukushima water release into sea to follow safety standards

The head of a UN nuclear agency task force assessing the safety of Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the wreaked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea said on Friday that Japanese regulators have shown their commitment to comply with international safety standards.

International concern over the plan has been widening. Last week, the head of the 18-nation Pacific Island Forum, which includes Australia, New Zealand and other island nations, expressed concern about any impact of radiation from the water on the livelihoods of people in the region which suffered in the past from atomic bomb tests, and urged Japan to suspend the plan.

The region is steadfast in its position that there should be no discharge until all parties verify through scientific means that such a discharge is safe, forum Secretary General Henry Puna said at a public seminar on the Fukushima issue.

The US National Association of Marine Laboratories, an organisation of more than 100 laboratories, .