IAEA Publishes 2025 Interlaboratory Comparison Report
Overview
The Fisheries Agency announced the publication of the report on the interlaboratory comparison (ILC) conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2025. The IAEA reported that Japan’s sampling procedures followed the standards needed to obtain representative samples, and that accurate results from this and previous comparisons demonstrated the high capability and reliability of Japanese laboratories. The results also matched routine monitoring, indicating that radionuclide concentrations in the marine environment around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station remain relatively low and stable.
Key points
- The IAEA published the report on its 2025 interlaboratory comparison (ILC).
- The IAEA reported that Japan’s sampling procedures followed appropriate standards and that Japanese laboratories demonstrated high capability and reliability.
- The report indicated that radionuclide concentrations in the marine environment around Fukushima Daiichi are relatively low and stable.
Overview
At the request of the Japanese government, the IAEA has conducted interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) since 2014 to help ensure the reliability and transparency of Japan’s marine monitoring results. The Fisheries Agency is responsible for tasks such as sampling seafood.
The initiative began as part of a project to follow up on advice about marine monitoring in an IAEA report issued in fiscal year 2013 concerning the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F).
Impact
According to the IAEA, the ILC results are consistent with routine monitoring and show that radionuclide concentrations in the marine environment around Fukushima Daiichi remain relatively low and stable.
Details
In addition to Japanese laboratories, laboratories in France, South Korea, and Switzerland selected by the IAEA participated in the 2025 ILC.
The IAEA reported that Japan’s sampling procedures continue to meet the appropriate standards needed to obtain representative samples, and that accurate results from the 2025 ILC and previous comparisons demonstrate the high capability and reliability of Japanese laboratories.
ILCs to support Japan’s marine monitoring results related to the release of ALPS treated water into the ocean have been conducted since 2022. The report on samples collected in 2025 is expected to have its results published separately by the IAEA.
The full report summarizing the results of the 2025 exercise is available on the IAEA website. An introductory video about ILCs produced by the IAEA is also available.