Japanese minister urges Hong Kong to lift ban on food from areas near Fukushima plant

From:japantoday

HONG KONG —
Japan’s agricultural minister Yuji Yamamoto has requested Hong Kong to lift a food ban that restricts imports from five Japanese prefectures most affected by a radiation-leak scare following the east Japan earthquake in 2011.

Imports of Japanese food, including milk, vegetables and fruits, from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba prefectures have been banned since March 2011 following the magnitude-9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that led to the nuclear plant meltdown over worries about contamination by radioactive substances. However, meat, poultry, eggs and aquatic products can be imported with radiation certificates stating their safety.

“I made a request to (Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam), if the regulation on the import of food from Japan could be relaxed and be eliminated,” Yamamoto told the press at the opening of the annual Food Expo, where a record number of more than 250 Japanese companies were in Hong Kong promoting their products, including those from the prefectures of Fukushima and Kumamoto, which was hit by a series of earthquakes in April.

Yamamoto said he wishes there could be a scientific based analysis of products from Fukushima to eliminate the reputational damage.

Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man said monitoring measures will remain for the safety of Hong Kong people.

“We have been relying on a risk and evidence-based method to decide on the prohibition of fresh food imports from five Japanese prefectures,” Ko told the press after touring the food fair. “We have continued to examine the progress made in Japan’s handling of the Fukushima nuclear incident, whether the respective measures they put in place or test results on the food.”

“We will look at all the information and make decisions on a scientific basis. We will explain to Japan Hong Kong’s position, which, most importantly, is that we will manage food safety based on the wellbeing of Hong Kong people,” he said.

The value of Japan’s exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products last year reached a record high of 745 billion yen ($7.34 billion), while Hong Kong remained the top destination for the 11th consecutive year with a value of 179 billion yen, marking a 33 percent increase from 2014, according to ministry statistics.

The sale of dried sea cucumber, considered a healthy seafood delicacy, to Hong Kong registered a slight decline, while instant noodles sales saw a 50 percent rise, which Yamamoto said was a “major surprise.”

Eliza Au, 40, owner of a startup private kitchen, said after sampling products from Kumamoto Prefecture that she is confident in the quality of Japanese food.

“The fruit, the Wagyu beef, all went under strict safety inspections, and the seasoning, the mix and match are all so appealing,” Au said.

The food fair, which showcases some 1,400 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions, runs through Monday.

© KYODO

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