EU imposes stricter controls on Japanese food imports
New rules will apply to products from 12 prefectures.
The European Union is to step up controls on food and feed exports from certain regions in Japan.
EU member states backed a proposal by the European Commission to impose special import conditions on food and feed products originating from 12 prefectures affected by the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
The decision was made by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.
The Commission said all products from these prefectures “have to be tested before leaving Japan and will be subject to random testing in the EU”.
They will also have to be accompanied by declarations issued by Japanese authorities confirming that the level of radiation in the products does not exceed the maximum permitted by the EU. Importers of the products will also have to notify national authorities two days before the arrival of the imports.
Products from the other 35 prefectures in Japan will have to be accompanied by declarations stating their place of origin and will also be subject to random testing when they arrive in the EU.
The Commission said products harvested or processed before 11 March will not be subject to extra checks. Those products will have to be accompanied by a declaration saying the exact date of production.
The Commission on 15 March asked member states to step up controls on food imports from Japan.
In 2010, the EU imported €187 million worth of agricultural products from Japan and €18m for fisheries products.
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